Pak election to be delayed by one month: Official

Islamabad, January 2: Elections in Pakistan will be delayed by one month following the turmoil sparked by the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, despite opposition threats of street protests unless the crucial vote is held January 8 as originally planned, a top official said on Wednesday.

A senior Election Commission official said that it has finalised a new date. He indicated it would not be before the second week of February, but refused to disclose the exact schedule before the formal announcement on Thursday.

The killing of former Prime Minister Bhutto thrust Pakistan into crisis and triggered three days of nationwide riots that killed 58 people and caused tens of millions of dollars in damage. Bhutto's home province of Sindh was especially hard hit and the army was deployed on the streets. Ten election offices were burned.

"We need at least one month to make arrangements to hold free and fair elections after the damage caused to our offices in the Sindh province," the official said, adding that the commission had already consulted the main political parties about the delay in the polls. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to disclose the decision.