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[rooster59]

Former cricketer Imran Khan sworn-in as Pakistan's prime minister

By Saad Sayeed

 

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan (L) takes the oath of the Prime Minister from President Mamnoon Hussain at the Presid House in Islamabad, Pakistan August 18, 2018. Press Information Department(PID) Handout via REUTERS

 

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Former cricket star Imran Khan was sworn-in as prime minister of Pakistan on Saturday, taking on the challenge of forming a coalition to govern as a currency crisis looms over the turbulent, nuclear-armed South Asian country.

 

Khan won the national election last month promising to fight corruption and drastically reduce poverty among Pakistan's 208 million mostly-Muslim people.

 

Hours after the oath-taking, Khan's office released a partial list of his choice of cabinet ministers and also announced the candidate for the office of president.

 

Asad Umer, former CEO of Pakistani multinational Engro, was appointed to the post of finance minister, party vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi to head the foreign office and former chief minister of the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Pervez Khattak was given charge of the defence ministry.

 

Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), or Justice Party, picked party stalwart Arif Alvi as its presidential candidate. The president will be voted in by lawmakers from Pakistan's upper and lower houses and the four provincial assemblies next month.

 

Wearing a traditional black sherwani coat, in the style of his hero and Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Khan recited the oath of office and vowed to respect the constitution.

 

"I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan," Khan read from the oath, standing next to President Mamnoon Hussain.

 

Later, he was given a guard of honour on the lawns of the prime minister's house.

 

Military coups have punctuated Pakistan's 71-year history, and Khan's election was only the second democratic transfer of power. If he completes his five-year term he will be the first Pakistani prime minister to do so.

 

His PTI has 151 of the 342 seats in the national assembly, where a vote was held on Friday to decide who would be asked to form a government.

 

Khan easily defeated rival Shehbaz Sharif from the outgoing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, garnering 176 votes to Sharif's 96.

 

URGENT

 

One of Khan's first tasks as prime minister will be figuring out how to deal with a looming currency crisis that threatens to derail an economy growing at around six percent annually.

 

The new coalition government must urgently decide whether to ask the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout, or seek support from China, the country Pakistan regards as its most reliable ally.

 

Relations with the United States are frayed, with U.S. officials fuming over Pakistan's alleged support for Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. Islamabad denies aiding the insurgents.

 

Following Khan's appointment, the US Department of State released a congratulatory statement stressing the importance of the strategic relationship shared by the two countries.

 

"The United States looks forward to working with Pakistan's new civilian government to promote peace and prosperity in Pakistan and the region," spokesman Heather Nauert said.

 

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Twitter that she had spoken with Khan, adding that Pakistan and the UK shared an important relationship.

 

"There is plenty for our two countries to work together on, not least increasing bilateral trade and mutual security issues," May said.

 

The oath-taking was attended by scores of Pakistani celebrities, sportsmen, and politicians, as well as former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, who serves as tourism minister for India's Punjab province.

 

Khan has promised to create millions of jobs and build world-class hospitals and schools in a country where more than 40 percent of the population is illiterate.

 

After spending much of his political career on the fringes, the Oxford-educated former sportsman rose to power on a populist platform, and in recent years his anti-corruption message has increasingly resonated with Pakistanis, especially the young.

 

Khan's opponents say he owes his ascent to covert support from the country's powerful military, though both the army and Khan deny collusion.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-08-19

[Get Real]

At least one might think he knows how to throw a curve ball.

[samran]

 

[NumbNut]

1 hour ago, samran said:

 

Like a tiger!

[wombat]

is he on the take like his predecessor ?

 

[Tchooptip]

He is married to an English woman and he has no sympathy for the Taliban. So maybe it's a good new?

[Cadbury]

As popular a person as he might be he is still only a stooge for the Pakistan military.

There will probably be a similar ending soon for another country in a nearby region where an unpopular person will end up being a stooge for the military.

[connda]

Best of luck on implementation of social programs that actually benefit the average Pakistani as opposed to enriching the ruling class and their friends.  We need more leaders who actually are focused on working for their constituents and the average man and woman.  Kudos.  

[rickudon]

Imran Khan USED to be married to an English woman, has had 2 pakistani wives since.

[Small Joke]

Howzat!  

Nothing will change, except his personal fortune.

Same the World over.