Imran Khan accepts defeat in Pakistan polls

Former Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan Sunday accepted defeat in the general elections, but said the polls were a "victory for the democratic system" in the country.

Imran said his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party would sit in the opposition in the National Assembly, Dawn News reported.

In a video message from his hospital bed in Lahore' Imran thanked the youths, women and the elderly who came out in large numbers to cast their votes, Radio Pakistan reported.

Imran, however, alleged that elections in Punjab province were not held in a fair manner and were clearly rigged.

He said the announcement of re-polling in Karachi was proof of rigging there.

Nawaz Sharif was Sunday poised to return to power after a 14-year hiatus, as results of the elections started trickling in.

Of 152 seats so far secured by different parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) bagged 86 seats, 21 went to Imran's PTI, and 15 to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of President Asif Ali Zardari.

Among others, nine went to independent candidates, eight to MQM, four to JuI-F, two to Jamat-e-Islami, two to Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and five to others, reported Xinhua.

The National Assembly has a total of 342 seats. Elections were held to 268 seats. Sixty seats are reserved for women and 10 for non-Muslims.