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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Pakistan election: Sharif edges closer to majority | Pakistan election: Sharif edges closer to majority |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nawaz Sharif is hoping to secure a majority in Pakistan's parliament and form the next government after claiming election victory. | Nawaz Sharif is hoping to secure a majority in Pakistan's 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. | 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. | He has already been congratulated by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. |
| Afghan leader Hamid Karzai and US President Barack Obama also pledged to work with the new administration. | |
| Mr Sharif is set to become prime minister for the third time. | Mr Sharif is set to become prime minister for the third time. |
| Former cricketer Imran Khan, whose Movement for Justice Party (PTI) is in a close fight for second place, has promised to provide genuine opposition. | Former cricketer 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 People's Party (PPP) which led a weak coalition often on the verge of collapse. | Analysts say Mr Sharif, 63, is in a far stronger position than the outgoing Pakistan People's 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 Saturday's election. It was one of several secular parties unable to campaign freely due to Taliban attacks. | The PPP of late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto appears to have been badly beaten in Saturday's 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%. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Once it achieves a majority, Mr Sharif's party would be allocated a majority of 70 other parliamentary seats reserved for women and non-Muslim minorities. | Once it achieves a majority, Mr Sharif's party would be allocated a majority of 70 other parliamentary seats reserved for women and non-Muslim minorities. |
| The election appears to have paved the way for the first transition from one elected government to another in a country prone to military takeovers. | The election appears to have paved the way for the first transition from one elected government to another in a country prone to military takeovers. |
| Mr Sharif - who was toppled in a military coup in 1999 and spent years in exile - spent Sunday in talks on forming a government. | Mr Sharif - who was toppled in a military coup in 1999 and spent years in exile - spent Sunday in talks on forming a government. |
| Imran Khan, still bedridden after a fall at a campaign rally, said the election would boost Pakistan's young democracy. | Imran Khan, still bedridden after a fall at a campaign rally, said the election would boost Pakistan's young democracy. |
| But he said his party was collecting evidence of alleged vote-rigging. | But he said his party was collecting evidence of alleged vote-rigging. |
| "We are now moving towards democracy. I congratulate the nation on the numbers in which they turned out to vote," he said. | "We are now moving towards democracy. I congratulate the nation on the numbers in which they turned out to vote," he said. |
| 'New course' | 'New course' |
| President Obama congratulated Pakistan on successfully completing the election and said he looked forward to working with the government that emerged. | President Obama congratulated Pakistan on successfully completing the election and said he looked forward to working with the government that emerged. |
| He welcomed the "historic, peaceful and transparent transfer of civilian power" but stopped short of naming Mr Sharif. | He welcomed the "historic, peaceful and transparent transfer of civilian power" but stopped short of naming Mr Sharif. |
| Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he hoped for a "new course" in relations between the two countries. | Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he hoped for a "new course" in relations between the two countries. |
| "PM extends his congratulations to Mr Nawaz Sharif and his party for their emphatic victory in Pakistan's elections," he said on his Twitter account. | "PM extends his congratulations to Mr Nawaz Sharif and his party for their emphatic victory in Pakistan's elections," he said on his Twitter account. |
| He invited Mr Sharif to go to India "at a mutually convenient time". | He invited Mr Sharif to go to India "at a mutually convenient time". |
| Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he hoped for co-operation to root out what he called terrorist sanctuaries. | Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he hoped for co-operation to root out what he called terrorist sanctuaries. |
| Both Pakistan and Afghanistan are engaged in a long battle with Taliban Islamist militants. | Both Pakistan and Afghanistan are engaged in a long battle with Taliban Islamist militants. |
| In the run-up, more than 100 people died in election-related violence. | In the run-up, more than 100 people died in election-related violence. |