ISLAMABAD: A PML-Q spokesman said on Monday that early results from parliamentary elections showed a “big gain” for the opposition.

“Early results show that there is a big gain for the Pakistan Muslim League of Nawaz Sharif,” said Tariq Azeem.

“If the results are confirmed we will play the role of opposition as effectively as we can,” he said.

“We congratulate Nawaz Sharif for an excellent performance by his party and we also congratulate Asif Ali Zardari,” Mr Azeem added.

PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, one of President Musharraf’s closest political allies, had lost his parliamentary seats, a senior party official added on condition of anonymity.

“The results are shocking but unfortunately we are losing and the Nawaz Sharif factor has played a very big role in our defeat,” the official said.—AFP