Pak EC wants to delay elections
Tuesday, 1 January 2008
ISLAMABAD, Dec 31 (Agencies): Elections in Pakistan appear likely to be delayed by several weeks, despite demands by the main two opposition parties that they take place as scheduled January 8, officials said Monday.
The political developments came hours after dramatic new videotape of the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto emerged, showing her slumping just after gunshots ring out.
The tape provides the clearest view yet of the attack and appears to show that Bhutto was shot. That would contradict the Pakistan government's account.
Meanwhile, the PPP decided that Amin Fahim would be party's candidate for prime minister as Zardari and Bilawal won't be standing in the election as they didn't register as candidates.
Amin Fahim is the most senior party leader after Bhutto.
The Election Commission said that it had recommended an unspecified delay in the parliamentary polls following the unrest that was triggered by the assassination of Bhutto last week. It said its final decision would be made Tuesday.
Separately, a senior government official predicted that the elections would be postponed by "six weeks or so, as the environment to hold free and fair elections is not conducive." The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to disclose the information.
Despite being in mourning, Bhutto's political party and that of Pakistan's other major opposition leader, Nawaz Sharif, want the polls held on time, perhaps sensing that major electoral gains are possible amid sympathy over Bhutto's death and a widespread belief that political allies of President Pervez Musharraf were behind the killing. Sharif's party reversed an earlier decision to boycott the election.
Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif said Monday that Pakistan's parliamentary elections should be held Jan. 8 as scheduled despite the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
He also said Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf should resign and be replaced by a national unity government.
"He is a one-man calamity. He is responsible for all the trouble in Pakistan. The country is burning," he said.
The political developments came hours after dramatic new videotape of the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto emerged, showing her slumping just after gunshots ring out.
The tape provides the clearest view yet of the attack and appears to show that Bhutto was shot. That would contradict the Pakistan government's account.
Meanwhile, the PPP decided that Amin Fahim would be party's candidate for prime minister as Zardari and Bilawal won't be standing in the election as they didn't register as candidates.
Amin Fahim is the most senior party leader after Bhutto.
The Election Commission said that it had recommended an unspecified delay in the parliamentary polls following the unrest that was triggered by the assassination of Bhutto last week. It said its final decision would be made Tuesday.
Separately, a senior government official predicted that the elections would be postponed by "six weeks or so, as the environment to hold free and fair elections is not conducive." The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to disclose the information.
Despite being in mourning, Bhutto's political party and that of Pakistan's other major opposition leader, Nawaz Sharif, want the polls held on time, perhaps sensing that major electoral gains are possible amid sympathy over Bhutto's death and a widespread belief that political allies of President Pervez Musharraf were behind the killing. Sharif's party reversed an earlier decision to boycott the election.
Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif said Monday that Pakistan's parliamentary elections should be held Jan. 8 as scheduled despite the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
He also said Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf should resign and be replaced by a national unity government.
"He is a one-man calamity. He is responsible for all the trouble in Pakistan. The country is burning," he said.