Imran likely to take oath as Pak PM on Aug 14

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan is likely to take the oath as the 21st elected prime minister of the country on Pakistan's independence day.

"It is my and caretaker prime minister retired Justice Nasirul Mulk's desire that the oath-taking of the new prime minister should take place on Aug 14," caretaker law minister Ali Zafar told Dawn on Friday.

Unveiling a tentative schedule of the National Assembly formation, the law minister said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was already on board as the ECP was engaged in making necessary arrangements required to hold the PM's election on the desired date.

Zafar said a fresh session of the assembly could be called on Aug 11 or 12.

He elaborated that if the NA session was held on Aug 11, the same day the new members would be administered the oath. He added that after printing of ballot papers for the elections of the NA speaker and deputy speaker, their elections could take place on Aug 13 and the next day the election of the prime minister could be held.

However, if the NA session was called on Aug 12, the election of the PM would be held on Aug 15.

The PTI emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly with 115 general seats while with the addition of the general and reserved seats of its allies the party claimed to have secured at least 172 seats.