Islamabad: In the presence of his veiled wife Bushra Maneka, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was sworn in as the 22nd Prime Minister on Saturday.
Mr Khan’s sons Qasim Khan and Suleman Khan skipped the event as the new premier had himself asked them to stay away.
The event began as the trumpeters of the Presidential Guards played the arrival tune. Attired in a charcoal colored sherwani and white shalwar, Imran Khan entered the hall along with President Mamnoon Hussain and caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk and went straight to the dais.
The National Anthem was played and the Cabinet secretary announced opening of the event.
Tearful Khan smiled as he stumbled over some of the words of the oath administered to him by President Mamnoon Hussain.
Mr Khan swore to ‘bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan’ and to ‘discharge my duties and perform my functions honestly, to the best of my ability... and always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of Pakistan.’
As the ceremony concluded, Mr Khan proceeded to the Prime Minister’s Office, where he was presented a guard of honour.
The National Anthem was played and a contingent of the three services presented him salute. Imran Khan inspected the guard of honour and was then introduced to the staff of the Prime Minister’s House. The ceremony at the President House marked the end of decades of rotating leadership between the ousted Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), punctuated by periods of army rule.
Mr Khan and First Lady Bushra Maneka greeted the guests after the oath was administered. It was her first public appearance since their wedding earlier this year, and she appeared escorted by tight security and covered from head to toe in a white niqab (veil).
