Pak's new PM Shehbaz rakes up Kashmir issue

Islamabad: Pakistan's newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday raked up the Kashmir issue in his maiden address but pledged to improve ties with all leading nations, including the country's neighbours.

Shehbaz said that Pakistan would not become part of any "great game" and his government would increase the number of friends.

"We will keep ties with neighbours on the basis of equality,” Shehbaz, 72, said as he easily won the election in the National Assembly. Shehbaz, however, raked up the Kashmir issue and equated it with Palestine.

“Let's all come together […] and the National Assembly should pass a resolution for the freedom of Kashmiris and Palestinians,” he added.

Shehbaz, who was the candidate of the PMLN and the PPP, received 201 votes in the 336-member house.

Shehbaz's challenger Omar Ayub Khan of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured 92 votes. (PTI)