Nawaz Sharif is hoping to secure a majority in Pakistans parliament and form the next government after claiming election victory. Unofficial results suggest his Muslim League will win easily, though Mr Sharif has reportedly opened talks with independents to guarantee a majority.
He has already been congratulated by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Afghan leader Hamid Karzai and US President Barack Obama have also pledged to work with the new administration. Sharif is set to become prime minister for the third time. Former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan, whose Movement for Justice Party (PTI) is in a close fight for second place, has promised to provide genuine opposition. Analysts say Mr Sharif, 63, is in a far stronger position than the outgoing Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) which led a weak coalition often on the verge of collapse.
The PPP of late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto appears to have been badly beaten in Saturdays election. It was one of several secular parties unable to campaign freely due to Taliban attacks. An election commission spokesman said turnout had been around 60%. In 2008 it was 44%. On Sunday evening, Pakistani media said the PML-N had so far captured 94 seats with the PTI securing 21 and the PPP 19. Analysts said the PML-N was likely to get around 130 seats and should be able to make up the required majority of 137 with support from independents and small parties.