Islamabad: The head of Pakistan's military-backed ruling party Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain was elected prime minister Tuesday, becoming the second prime minister under military ruler President Pervez Musharraf.

Shujaat, a two-time former minister and wealthy industrialist who turns 59 next month, easily won the required simple majority to fill the slot made vacant by Zafarullah Jamali's sudden resignation on Saturday.

He scored 190 votes in the 342-seat national assembly, speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain announced at the end of the televised vote.

Jamali, also from Shujaat's pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), quit without explanation following months of rumours that President Pervez Musharraf was fed up with his lacklustre performance.

Shujaat becomes the 19th prime minister in Pakistan's 54-year history, but he will only be in the post for two months to pave the way for outgoing Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz who must make a transition from the senate to the assembly.

Shujaat's only contender was Makhdoom Amin Fahim of ex-premier Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, who represented all secular opposition parties and won 76 votes.

A six-party Islamist alliance boycotted the vote and sat on the sidelines of the house.

Shujaat said he had not sought the prime minister's post.

"I want to make it clear that I never aspired for this office I swear upon God I never lobbied for the post of prime minister," he told the assembly in his acceptance speech.

"I know the prime ministership is a sacred national trust. I will do my best to defend this trust."

He vowed to wage a "jihad" against terrorism and lawlessness and to pursue Musharraf's prized policy of "enlightened, moderate" Islam.

"We have to face two fronts -- first to defend the religion and Islamic values and second to (practice) good governance," he said.

"We will have to end negative politics and stop mudslinging and false allegations. We will follow the teaching of and the life of the Prophet Mohammad.

"We will take solid steps for economic and political stability and enlightened moderation launched by President Pervez Musharraf."