APD | Imran Khan takes oath as Pakistan’s 22nd PM

By APD writer Muhammad Sohail

**ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (APD) – **Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was sworn in as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan on Saturday in a simple ceremony hosted at the President House in the capital Islamabad.

The event began as the trumpeters of the Presidential Guards played the arrival tune. Attired in a charcoal colored national dress, Imran Khan entered the hall along with President Mamnoon Hussain and caretaker prime minister Nasir-ul-Mulk.

The national anthem was played and the Cabinet Secretary announced the opening of the event with the recitation from the Holy Quran.

Tearful Khan smiled as he stumbled over some of the words of the oath administered to him by President Mamnoon Hussain.

Khan swore to “bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan”, and to “discharge my duties and perform my functions honestly, to the best of my ability… and always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being, and prosperity of Pakistan.”

As the ceremony concluded, Khan proceeded to the Prime Minister’s Office, where he was presented a guard of honor.

The national anthem was played and a contingent of the three services presented his salute. Khan inspected the guard of honor and was then introduced to the staff of the Prime Minister House.

The ceremony at the President House marks the end of decades of rotating leadership between the ousted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Khan and First Lady Bushra greeted the guests after the oath was administered. It was her first public appearance since their wedding earlier this year.

High-profile guests attending the ceremony included National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Naval Chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Indian cricket star Navjot Singh Sidhu, cricketer-turned-commentator Rameez Raja, legendary paceman Wasim Akram and others.

Keeping in view the desire of Imran Khan for austerity, the guests were offered tea and biscuits.

Earlier on Friday, Imran Khan was elected Pakistan’s prime minister on Friday evening by the National Assembly or lower house of the parliament after his party swept the general election last month, marking the beginning of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) tenure in power.

He received 176 votes as against 96 votes by his only rival Shahbaz Sharif of PML at the voting held at Parliament House in Islamabad.

In a house of 372, the winning candidate was required to obtain at least 172 votes to become the Prime Minister.

He will face myriad challenges including militant extremism, water shortages, and a rapidly growing population negating growth in the developing country, among others.

Most pressing is a looming economic crisis, with speculation that Pakistan will have to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)