Pakistan's new lawmakers sworn in

Newly elected members of Pakistan's National Assembly were sworn in Saturday, according to a report of the Associated Press. "We are facing many challenges, but God willing, we will overcome them," said the incoming prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, who twice served as prime minister in the 1990s and was ousted in a 1999 military coup. The 63-year-old is expected to be sworn in as prime minister in the coming week. Outgoing Speaker of Parliament Fehmida Mirza solemnly administered the oath to incoming legislators at noon. Afterward, lawmakers were called up to the front of the hall one by one to sign documents formalizing their membership. The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) won 176 seats in the 342-member lower house of Parliament and is expected to rule in an alliance with some independent legislators. The previous ruling Pakistan People's Party was crushed, earning just 39 seats. Former cricket star Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party won 35 seats, and has pledged to act as a strong opposition. Khan, who is still recovering after fracturing three vertebrae and a rib when he fell off a forklift in the last few days of the campaign, did not attend Saturday's session.