ISLAMABAD, Aug.1 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's National Assembly on Tuesday elected Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, candidate of the ruling party, as the country's new prime minister.
The election came four days after former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court over corruption charges.
Abbasi, candidate of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), secured 221 votes in the 342-member lower house while Syed Naveed Qamar of the main opposition Pakistan Peoples Party bagged 47 votes.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) received 33 votes and Jamaat-e-Islami's candidate Sahibzada Tariq Ullah got only four votes, according to the results announced by Speaker of National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
The PML-N lawmakers chanted slogans "Wazir-e-Azam Nawaz Sharif" (Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif) as the Speaker announced the results. Some members brought Nawaz Sharif's big photos when they entered the assembly house.
Abbasi, who had served as petroleum minister in Nawaz Sharif's cabinet, will serve as an interim prime minister, and will be replaced by Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, according to an internal agreement made by the PML-N.
Reports said that Shehbaz Sharif will contest election for the parliament seat on September 17, which fell vacant due to the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif. Shehbaz is presently the chief minister of Punjab province.
According to local media reports, Abbasi, one of the senior PML-N leaders, will take the oath later in the evening. President Mamnoon Hussaain will administer oath to the new prime minister.
Opposition parties had tried to reach a consensus on a joint candidate before the election, but that attempt failed last minute.
Two candidates from opposition parties, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), had given up their contest for the election to support the PML-N-backed candidate.
The opposition candidates congratulated Abbasi over election after the results were announced.
