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| Pakistan elections postponed to Feb 18 | | | Islamabad | Jan 2
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday decided to postpone the January 8 polls to February 18, in view of the situation in the country after the murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Mohammad Farooq said.
Earlier on Saturday, 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. |
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