Pak: Sharif urges parties to join hands

Islamabad/Lahore: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Friday called for a unity government as the cash-strapped Pakistan appeared to be heading towards a hung parliament, with independent candidates backed by jailed ex-premier Imran Khan's party springing a surprise by winning 92 out of the 224 seats for which results were declared so far.

According to the Election Commission data, results of 224 constituencies out of 265 were declared. Independent candidates (mostly supported by PTI) bagged 92 seats while PMLN got 63 and PPP 50.

Smaller parties secured 19 seats. To form a government, a party must win 133 seats out of 265 in the National Assembly.

Election to one seat was postponed after the death of a candidate. Overall, 169 seats are needed to secure a majority out of its total 336 seats, which include reserved slots for women. (PTI)