Pakistan swears in new parliament amid chaotic scenes as Imran Khan’s allies protest vote count

Pakistan’s National Assembly (NA) swore in newly elected members on Thursday in a chaotic scene, as allies of jailed former premier Imran Khan protested what they claim was a rigged election.
Lawmakers from Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party repeatedly chanted “Vote-thief!” as Shahbaz Sharif, who’s expected to form the government, entered the lower house of parliament with his brother Nawaz Sharif. Both men are former premiers.
The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) party backed by Imran Khan alleges that the Feb.8 national election was rigged against them and has called for an audit of the polls. No single party won a majority.
Candidates backed by Imran won the most seats but the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), have agreed to an alliance to form a coalition government.
Outgoing National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf administered the oath to incoming legislators at noon.
The house echoed with chants of “Long Live Sharif!” when the brothers signed the register after taking their oaths of office. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the young chairman of PPP and a key Sharif ally, was met with similar chants.
PTI’s lawmakers wears masks replicating Imran Khan after the inaugural session of the National Assembly.

“Who will save Pakistan? Imran Khan, Imran Khan,” SIC members chanted as legislators, including the prime minister in waiting Shahbaz Sharif, signed the membership register of the National Assembly.
One SIC member held up a poster reading “Release Imran Khan” as he went up to the speaker’s dais to sign.
SIC’s Omar Ayub, Khan’s candidate to be prime minister, told journalists the party would seek the release of the former cricket hero who was has been convicted in a string of cases and faces over a decade in jail.
Darshan Punchi (2nd R) holds a poster of their leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Shrif, as he arrives to attend the opening session. AP

The election for the prime minister will be held on Mar. 4, local broadcaster Geo News reported.
The new government will face challenges including a surge in militant attacks and shortages of energy; as well as an ailing economy that will force Pakistan to seek another bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Lawmakers from PTI told reporters that they will continue their campaign against the rigging in the elections in and outside the parliament.
“Yes, the election has been rigged,” said Gohar Ali Khan, the current head of PTI.
PTI has called for nationwide rallies on Saturday. The party claims it results were changed in dozens of constituencies to prevent it from winning a majority, a charge the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) denies.
Khurram Shahzad Wirk holds a poster of their imprisoned leader Imran Khan upon his arrival at the parliament house. AFP

After the Feb.8 elections, observers from the Commonwealth praised election officials for holding the vote despite multiple militant attacks, but the US State Department said that the vote was held under restrictions of freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.
The European Union also criticised the inability of some political actors to contest the elections. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has fired back at such criticism, saying the vote was held in a free, fair and transparent manner.
None of the foreign observers described widespread vote-stealing.
A supporter of PTI wears a mask replicating Imran Khan, during the inaugural session outside the parliament house. AFP