Sunday 30 December 2007
Islamabad - The election commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to postpone the January 8 polls in view of the situation in the country after the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and will announce new dates for national and provincial assembly elections on Monday, a senior official of the commission said.
"Today in an informal meeting the senior officials of the ECP discussed the situation and unrest in the country and concluded that elections will have to be postponed," said the official requesting anonymity. He said that the formal decision in this regard will be announced on Monday after a meeting with government and security officials.
After Saturday's meeting the ECP released a press statement saying that the election scheduled next month had been "adversely affected" by unrest in the country and that it would hold an urgent meeting on Monday. After opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's assassination, another candidate was killed in a bomb blast on Friday.
The commission said in its statement: "All activities pertaining to pre-poll arrangements, including printing of ballot papers and logistics as well as training of polling personnel, have been adversely affected." In some places, the commission said, the security situation was "not conducive" to holding the elections on January 8. "Election commission offices in nine districts have been set on fire, leaving electoral rolls reduced to ashes."
Benazir Bhutto had returned to Pakistan after eight years of self-imposed exile to take part in the poll. After Bhutto's assassination, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz "the country's other major party" has already announced boycott of the polls.
Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has said it will decide about taking part in the polls on Sunday evening after prayers for Bhutto three days after her death.
Rioting in Pakistan Continues
By Laura King
The Los Angeles Times
Sunday 30 December 2007
Dozens have been killed since the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. President Musharraf vows to restore order after a third day of violence.
President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday expressed determination to restore law and order after the country was racked by a third day of riots and looting that have killed dozens of people since the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
Officials said at least 44 people had been killed in unrest that broke out Thursday night after the former prime minister was killed as she left a campaign rally.
Much of the unrest has been concentrated in and around Karachi, the southern port city that was Bhutto's home base. It has a long history of political violence and is a stronghold of a pro-Musharraf party.
Among the recent casualties was a young man shot to death in Karachi while wearing a tunic made from the flag of Bhutto's party. A gun battle in the streets of the city killed three other people.
Clashes also broke out Saturday in Rawalpindi, the city where Bhutto was killed. After leaving a memorial service, some supporters threw stones at police officers, who responded with tear gas.
Other parts of the country, including the capital, Islamabad, remained mostly calm.
The Interior Ministry said Saturday that the violence had damaged or destroyed hundreds of banks, stores, gas stations, railway cars and rail stations. Property damage was estimated in the tens of millions of dollars.
Paramilitary troops in the most volatile areas have been given permission to use deadly force against rioters.
The country has been in a state of virtual shutdown since Bhutto was killed, but that was apparently in part because of violence and in part because of the three official days of mourning that Musharraf declared.
Officials indicated that the violence might affect a decision on whether to go ahead with parliamentary elections on Jan. 8. The Election Commission was to meet Monday to discuss whether the vote should be postponed.
Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party planned to meet today, a gathering at which it may choose a new leader and decide whether to boycott the elections.
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