ISLAMABAD, AUG 17 (DNA) – With the general elections out of the way and the resultant national and provincial assemblies having taken shape, the newly elected MNAs today will elect the new leader of the house — the person who will be the 22nd prime minister of Pakistan.

The two contenders for the premier post are Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif — with the former tipped as the favourite.

The session kicked off around 4:30pm ─ an hour later than expected ─ with all lawmakers seated.

Khan arrived at parliament well ahead of the scheduled polling time. By 3:30pm, Sharif had also arrived at the venue, but did not make an appearance in the assembly until after 4:14pm.

Sharif, flanked by other PML-N MNAs, walked into the House with a black band around his upper arm in protest against alleged rigging in the election.

Despite the PPP’s boycott of today’s vote, chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also attended the session.

Shahbaz shook hands with both Imran and Bilawal on his way to the benches.

There appeared to have been a delay in the election due to overcrowding in the press gallery, local media reported.

Apparently, more passes were issued to guests than actual places available, causing a disturbance in the gallery.