Islamabad: The political party of Pakistan's cricket star turned politician Imran Khan has officially nominated him for the country's next prime minister.
The Tahreek-e-Insaf party won most parliament seats in last month's general elections - 115 - but fell short of a majority in the 342-seat assembly. It's expected to form a governing coalition later this month.

For Khan to officially become prime minister - Pakistan's nineteenth - the parliament must convene and vote on his nomination.

To become premier, Khan will face a vote in parliament - perhaps as early as on Saturday - in which he will have to defeat a rival candidate fielded by the opposition.

Tahreek-e-Insaf leader Arif Alvi, a lawmaker elected from Karachi, said Khan was formally nominated on Monday at a party meeting in Islamabad.

Khan is likely to face tough opposition from the Pakistan Muslim League of ousted former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other parties, which allege vote rigging took place in the July 25 elections.