Imran Khan defeats Shahbaz Sharif to become Pakistan's new Prime Minister

Imran Khan secured 176 votes while Sharif got 96 votes out of 342-member lower house of Parliament.

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN: Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan on Friday defeated Shahbaz Sharif in a one-sided contest to become Pakistan's next prime minister after the grand opposition alliance fell apart over the PML-N chief's nomination for the top post.

The election in the 15th National Assembly became just a formality after the Pakistan Peoples Party, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari with 54 seats abstained from voting.

Khan, 65, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), secured 176 votes while his only rival and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Sharif got 96 votes.

Khan will take the oath on Saturday.

A total of 172 votes in the 342-member lower house of Parliament are needed to form a government.