Pakistan’s World Cup cricket hero Imran Khan was set to be sworn in as prime minister of Pakistan Saturday, after promising a new era of responsibility and prosperity in a fighting speech in parliament. Khan won a simple majority from lawmakers in a Friday confidence vote three weeks after an election tainted by claims of military meddling and ballot-rigging. The army and Khan have denied claims from rival parties of “blatant” vote rigging. The work beginsKhan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party campaigned on promises to end widespread graft while building an “Islamic welfare state”. Known in Pakistan as “Taliban Khan” for his calls to hold talks with insurgents, he increasingly catered to religious hardliners during the campaign, spurring fears his leadership could embolden extremists.

Source: Egypt Independent August 18, 2018 02:26 UTC