Imran Khan ally elected speaker of Pak House

A staunch ally of cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan was elected speaker of Pakistan's lower house yesterday, a key position to support Khan's legislative agenda after he won a disputed election last month.

Asad Qaiser, a Khan loyalist, defeated Pakistan Peoples Party candidate Syed Khurshid Shah, who was backed by lawmakers from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) that held power last term. Qaiser won by 176 votes to 146.

Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won 116 of the 272 elected seats in the National Assembly, which is expected to vote in the former sportsman as PM tomorrow. A swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Saturday.

In a raucous ceremony, protesting PML-N lawmakers shouted "give honour to the vote" after Qaiser's appointment was announced.

The PML-N and PPP, two parties which have dominated Pakistan's politics for decades, have both called into question the fairness of last month's election, citing irregularities after polls closed. They also allege Khan's PTI path to power was enabled by clandestine assistance from Pakistan's powerful military. The army denies playing a role in the elections.

 Following the elections, the PPP and PML-N said they would join forces to field Sharif's brother aShehbaz Sharif as their candidate for PM but the alliance, which includes several smaller parties, is unlikely to derail Khan's election.