ISLAMABAD: Yousuf Raza Gillani was Tuesday expectedly elected Pakistan's new Prime Minister by Parliament and he quickly ordered the immediate release of judges detained after President Pervez Musharraf clamped Emergency last year.

Moments after the 55-year-old Pakistan People's Party (PPP) stalwart from Punjab was chosen as Pakistan's 22nd prime minister Gillani in his maiden speech to the National Assembly also pledged that he will seek to pass a resolution for a UN-led probe into PPP leader and former premier Benazir Bhutto's assassination last December.

In a one-sided contest, Gillani bagged 264 votes in voting in the 342-seat National Assembly trouncing Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the opposition candidate, who got just 42 votes. There were several abstentions.

The PPP stalwart will be sworn in Wednesday by Musharraf at a ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr or Presidency at 1130 IST.

Gillani, who will lead the coalition government formed by the PPP and its allies PML-N, Awami National Party and Jamiat lema-e-Islam, said "My first step is to ask the National Assembly to pass a resolution seeking a UN-led inquiry into Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's assassination on December 27, 2007." Musharraf has before rejected PPP's demand for UN probe.

Gillani's announcements were greeted by loud cheers from the visitors' gallery packed with PPP supporters and thumping of desks by the treasury benches. The premier-elect also asked the House to pass another resolution apologising to the nation for the "judicial murder" of PPP founder and former premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

His announcements sparked slogans of "Go Musharraf go" from the galleries, and the PPP workers did not stop shouting the slogans despite repeated requests from Speaker Fehmida Mirza.

Gillani also said: "I will request the judges to resolve their problems through the parliament because I think the parliament is the supreme body of this country."

"We have paid a heavy price for the restoration of democracy. Democracy has been ushered in due to sacrifices made by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto," he said.

"We will not compromise on the country's dignity, self-respect and honour," he added.