Uproar as Pakistan election results delayed and Khan tipped for power

Pakistan was gripped by electoral chaos Thursday with the results from its pivotal general election delayed and major parties denouncing "blatant rigging", as former cricket champion Imran Khan appeared on course for victory.

Results were still being tallied Thursday, hours after Khan's supporters took to the streets to celebrate winning an election that opponents have said the powerful military rigged in his favour.

The unprecedented delay, along with a surprisingly strong lead in early results for Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, have fuelled widespread fears over the legitimacy of the exercise.

Newspapers and television channels have been predicting victory for PTI since late Wednesday. By Thursday partial, unofficial results gave him at least 100 seats so far in the National Assembly, the lower house.

A majority of 137 seats is needed to form a government.