Former Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif is celebrating with his supporters, amid early signs that his party will be the largest after parliamentary elections in Pakistan.

Media projections based on partial results suggest a big lead for Mr Sharif's Muslim League Party, and he has already claimed victory.

The election should lead to the country's first transition from one elected government to another.

Cricketing hero  Imran 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%. 

Violence broke out as people went to the polls

Despite pre-election violence and deadly attacks on Saturday, 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 history.

At least 18 people were killed and more than 50 injured in several bomb blasts across the country.

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.

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.