Islamabad: Cricket star-turned-politician Imran Khan was sworn in as the 22nd prime minister of Pakistan on Saturday, after 22 long years of political struggle.
Imran Khan was elected prime minister in a vote at the country’s National Assembly on Friday after his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won the most votes in July 25 general elections.
Imran Khan donned a black sherwani as he took oath as the prime minister of Pakistan. President Mamnoon Hussain administered the oath after the national anthem and recitation of Quran.
Khan, 65, was tearful as he 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.”
After taking the oath as the prime minister, Imran Khan and First Lady Bushra Imran, greeted various guests present on the occasion. It was Bushra’s first public appearance since their wedding and she was seen covered in a white veil and dress from head to toe.
As the ceremony concluded, Imran Khan proceeded to the Prime Minister House, where he was presented a guard of honour by a contingent of armed forces.
The path-taking ceremony was surprisingly simple as guests were treated with water, tea and biscuits.
Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Naval Chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, caretaker prime minister Nasirul Mulk, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser attended the ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr (presidential palace) in Islamabad.
Other notable guests included senior PTI leaders including Asad Umar, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Shireen Mazari, Chaudhary and Jahangir Tareen, former cricketers Rameez Raja, Wasim Akram, singers Salman Ahmad and Ibrarul Haq and actor Javaid Shaikh.
Indian cricketer-turned-politician, Navjot Singh Sidhu, was also among the special invitees who was seen seated in the front row and was warmly embraced by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won the most seats in the July 25 general elections but had to seek support from some smaller parties and independents to form a coalition to gain the simple majority required to elect Imran Khan as the prime minister.
For years, Khan and his party had campaigned to combat widespread corruption in Pakistan, to end dynastic politics and to focus on accountability. “First of all, we will start strict accountability. I promise to my God that everyone who looted this country will be made accountable,” Imran Khan said in his speech in the National Assembly on Friday.
