Nawaz Sharif is on course to become Pakistan's prime minister, as reports projected his party to win an imposing 130 of the 137 seats it needs for a majority. Sharif said he would form a coalition with minority groups to make up the remaining seats.
The government of Pakistan ordered the New York Times' bureau chief in Islamabad to leave the country on the eve of national elections, the newspaper said on Friday.
A letter was delivered by police officers to the home of the bureau chief, Declan Walsh, at 12.30am local time on Thursday, it said.
The newspaper protested the action and urged the government to reconsider, said Danielle Rhoades Ha, a company spokeswoman.
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"We respectfully request that you overturn this decision and allow Mr Walsh to remain in Pakistan," wrote Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson in a letter to Pakistan's interior minister.
Pakistanis go to the polls on within hours in what is expected to be a close-fought race
His should be a stable government for he will not need any other party bloc to form a coalition; a few independents will do.
Nawaz Sharif appears to have completed an astonishing political comeback in Pakistan's general election.
After an invigorating election campaign, voters here in Pakistan have decided to stick with the familiar by electing Nawaz Sharif.