Islamabad: Counting in Pakistan's general elections on October 11 showed breathtaking gains by Islamic fundamentalist parties, with a massive swing in the country's Western border areas leaving them poised to hold the balance of power in the future Parliament.

As of 07:45 hours (GMT), the Election Commission had announced 102 of the National Assembly's 272 general seats.

Pakistan's hardline religious parties registered surprise gains in two provinces bordering Afghanistan to emerge as a major power broker at the Centre while the government-backed Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and Pakistan People Parliamentarians competed neck-to-neck to emerge as the single largest party.

The anti-American six party alliance, Muthida Majilis-e-Amal (MMA), has so far won 33 seats in the 272 National Assembly and is tally was expected to go up as its candidates were leading in about a dozen constituencies.

The results, which elected Jamiat Islami leader Qazi Hussian Ahmed and Moulana Fazlur Rehman of the Jamaat Ulema Islami to the National Assembly, were a surprise as in all the previous elections they never managed to get more than 10 per cent of votes.

The MMA victories in NWFP and Baluchistan could have significant bearing on the ongoing US-led operations against Taleban and al-Qaida militants who are reported to have been hiding in tribal areas of the two provinces.

MMA has also secured one of two seats in the capital Islamabad.

The Islamic parties, contesting for the first time as an alliance, only won four of 201 federal seats at the last Legislative elections in 1997.

The pro-government Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has won 29 seats, including 18 in all-important Punjab province, the country's largest.

The Opposition Pakistan People's Party of self-exiled ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was banned from the elections, has won 16 seats.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of deposed ex-Premier Nawaz Sharif, also in exile and barred from contesting, has won eight seats.

Cricket legend Imran Khan scored his first election victory, winning his home seat of Mianwali, 200 kilometers South West of Islamabad in Punjab province. His Tehreek- i-Insaf (Justice Movement) party, founded in 1996, was unlikely to pick up any other seats.

The National Alliance of six pro-government parties has won three seats.

Independent candidates have won 11 seats, including Maulana Azam Tariq, the jailed leader of the outlawed Islamic extremist organisation Sipah-e-Sahaba.

Sipah-e-Sahaba was one of five extremists outfits banned by President Pervez Musharraf in January.

The ethnic Muhajir-based Muttahidda Qaumi Movement has won two seats in their traditional stronghold of Sindh.

Votes for the National Assembly's 272 general seats were counted through the night. Another 70 seats are reserved for women and non-Muslim minorities.

The results will be certified next week.