Pakistan Elections: Nawaz Sharif Claims Victory Nawaz Sharif has declared victory for his centre-right party in Pakistan's landmark elections, putting him on course to form the next government as prime minister for a historic third term. The wealthy steel magnate from the Punjab province held off a challenge from former cricket star Imran Khan who had hoped to break decades of dominance by Mr Sharif and the Pakistan People's Party led by the Bhutto family. Sharif, 63, declared victory in a jubilant speech to supporters as partial, unofficial 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. Please pray that by morning we're in a position that we don't need the crutch of coalition partners. Supporters of Mr Sharif celebrate on the streets Despite pre-election violence and attacks on Saturday that killed dozens of people, millions turned out to cast their ballot in a milestone election for a country that has been ruled by the military for more than half of its turbulent history. Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League may not have enough seats to rule on its own and may be forced into a coalition, which could make it difficult to push reforms desperately needed to revive a near-failed economy. Mr Sharif, who advocates free-market economics, is likely to pursue privatisation and deregulation to revive flagging growth. He will have to ease widespread discontent over endemic corruption, chronic power cuts and crumbling infrastructure in the nuclear-armed country, a strategic US ally. One of the first likely tasks will be to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund for a multi-billion-dollar bailout. Imran Khan said he gained a 'tsunami of support', but ultimately not enough Cricketing hero Khan in the end did not have the momentum needed to trip up Mr Sharif despite his popularity among urban youths, many of whom were voting for the first time in an election that saw a turnout of 60%. Mr Khan struck a chord with his message of change and with his extremely critical comments of the US' use of drone strikes. As the country voted, at least 18 people were killed and more than 50 injured in several bomb blasts across the nation. Two deadly attacks in the port city of Karachi hit the political offices of the Awami National Party, one of three secular liberal parties targeted by Taliban militants during the run-up to the poll. The twin bombs left 11 dead and wounded 37 others. A bomb blast in Karachi killed at least 11 people In Peshawar, a bomb planted on a motorbike targeting women voters injured eight, while a suicide bomber targeting another polling station in the region blew himself up without injuring anyone else after he was spotted by police and prevented from entering the building. There were two more blasts in the remote Haft Wali district of Baluchistan, with one person reported dead and seven wounded. Four more were said to have died in a gun battle in the area, while armed men also opened fire near a polling station in the district, killing two people, police said.