Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan will take oath as the country’s next prime minister on August 18, Geo News reported on Friday, quoting party spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry. Chaudhry said the preparations for the oath ceremony will start from Saturday.
Khan’s party emerged the single-largest in national elections held on July 25, winning 115 seats, and will form the government with the support of allies and independent candidates.
The newly-elected members of the National Assembly will take oath at 10 am on August 13, after which the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly will be elected through secret voting, according to Chaudhry. “The procedure takes two to three days, hence it has been decided that the oath-taking would take place on August 18,” he said.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Faisal Javed also confirmed the development, adding that Indian cricketers Kapil Dev, Navjot Singh Sidhu, and Sunil Gavaskar have been invited for the swearing-in ceremony.
Election Commission accepts Khan’s apology for voting publicly
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of Pakistan accepted Imran Khan’s apology for violating the secrecy of the ballot during elections last month, reported Dawn. The Election Commission said a notification will now be issued for Khan’s victory from the NA-53 constituency in Islamabad.
Khan tendered a written, unconditional apology for casting his vote in public on July 25. Television footage showed him accompanied by friends and supporters, as he publicly stamped the ballot paper on the presiding officer’s table instead of going behind the voting screen.
In the reply submitted by his lawyer, Khan said he valued the rules of the election. The PTI chief said he entered an overcrowded polling station without anyone accompanying him to cast his vote. “I was told to put my ballot on a table and stamp it when I asked the staffers present there about where to mark the ballot,” he told the Election Commission.
Khan added that the media recorded him voting without his consent, and that it was not his intention to break the law.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!