By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is leading in the parliamentary elections, initial unofficial results indicated Tuesday.
Pakistan Peoples Party is second in the race while the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League (Q) has secured third place in the results announced so far.
The Mutahida Qaumi Movement has showed good results in Karachi and the nationalist Awami national party has secured more seats in North West Frontier Province.
Almost all except few former federal ministers and close allies of President Musharraf has lost their seats.
President of the former ruling PML-Q Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has faced defeat on two National assemblies seats in Punjab province.
Speaker National Assembly Chaudhrey Amir Hussain was also defeated by PPP female PPP candidate Furdus Ashiq Awan.
Leader of the Jamiat ulema-e-Islam Maulana Fazal ur Rehman also faced defeat in his home constituency of Dera Islamil Khan but he won another seat in the city of Bannu.
Voting is being held for 268 general seats of the 342-seat National Assembly, lower house of the parliament.
Polling was postponed on four seats due to security concerns and death of candidates.
Polls for the general seats of 577 provincial assemblies were also under way.
Elections on special women and minorities seats will be held on proportional representation basis after the general elections are held.
President Pervez Musharraf has appealed the losers to accept election results.
Major parties Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Mutahida Qaumi Movement, Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal, Awami National Party are among 47 parties taking part in the elections.
An alliance of over 20 parties All Party Democratic Movement (APDM) is boycotting the election.
Initial results show that the PML-N secured 38 National Assembly seats, while PPP 38, PML-Q 18, Awami National Party 8, Mutahida Qaumi Movement 18, MMA 2 and independent 18.
Counting is still continuing and the remaining results are expected later toady.
Former ministers who faced defeat included Khurshid Kasuri, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Zubaida Jalal, Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Liaquat Jatoi, Nasir Khan, Dr Sher Afgan, Hamayun Akhtar, Sikaran Bosan, Chaudhry Shebsaz, Yar Muhammad Rind, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Wasi Zafar and Ishaq Khakwani.