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.
Nawaz Sharif, 63, declared victory in a jubilant speech to supporters as results from Saturday's election showed a overwhelming lead for his party.
"Results are still coming in, but this much is confirmed: we're the single largest party so far," he declared to hoots of joy from the crowd in Punjab's capital, Lahore.
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.