Pakistan Prime Minister-elect: We want good relations with India

"We want peace with India, but that is not possible without solving the Kashmir issue," said Pakistani Prime Minister-elect Shahbaz Sharif, noting that "my first priority is to achieve national harmony."

Speaking to Geo News, Sharif indicated that "the new government will be formed in consultation with opposition leaders," adding: "I will start a new era in the country and I will work to promote mutual respect and try to provide comfort to the people by improving the country's economy."

Earlier today, Pakistani lawmakers elected Sharif, 70, as the new prime minister after his predecessor Imran Khan was ousted, who resigned from his seat in the National Assembly along with most of his party members ahead of the vote.

"Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has been elected prime minister," Acting Parliament Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said, with 174 votes out of 342 in the parliament.

Sharif led the opposition coalition that pressed for a vote of no confidence in Khan in the assembly after weeks of political turmoil.

Once inaugurated, Sharif will have to form a government from his Pakistan Muslim League (centre), Pakistan People's Party (centre left) and the smaller conservative Jamiat Ulema al-Islam.

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