Pakistan's PPP takes lead in general elections

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has won the largest number of National Assembly (NA) seats, but not secured a majority, according to initial incomplete results shown by local TV channel Geo on Tuesday.

The PPP has secured a total of 88 NA seats, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 65 seats in the second place, Geo reported, adding that 254 seats among a total of 269 have been polled.

Thus even if all the remaining votes go to PML-N, PPP will still get the largest number of NA seats in the general elections.

The former ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) won 37 NA seats so far, the Geo report said.

The polling staff have been counting the votes. However, no party will gain majority votes in the elections because there are only 15 seats unannounced.

Former Chief Minister of Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, a top leader of PML-Q, Tuesday said he accepted the election results with open heart.

However, it will take time for the Election Commission of Pakistan to release the official results of the polling on Monday.

President Pervez Musharraf has said he would be willing to work with any Prime Minister and the party forming the new government.

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Election Commission started to release initial results of the country's legislative election late Monday night and the latest figures showed voter turnout was below 20 percent in some polling stations.

The president of Pakistan's ruling party lost his seat in parliament in Monday's general election, local TV reported on Tuesday. Full story

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Two Pakistan's ruling party leaders had lost their seats in the Monday's parliamentary elections, Dawn News and Aaj TV reported on Tuesday.

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q party, and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the railways minister, lost seats in the vote in Punjab province. Full story

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan Qazi Muhammad Farooq announced Monday first results of two national assembly and one provincial assembly seats.

Shaukatullah and Syed Akhuzada Chitan, both independent candidates from the tribal regions, were declared successful with securing 7,428 and 6,257 votes respectively, News Network International news agency reported. Full story

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The polling of Pakistan's general elections has come to an end Monday afternoon.

The Presiding Officers started to count the votes at the polling stations in presence of the candidates, their election agents and polling agents immediately after the end of the polling. Full story

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani people are casting their votes in the general elections on Monday.

The polling started at 8 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) and will continue till 5 p.m. (1200 GMT).