Lahore, Pakistan:  January 2, 2008 – IR Summary - Pakistan Elections, which were scheduled to be held on January 8, have been postponed by the Election Commissioner to February, 2008.

The secretary of the election commission said that the date of postponing the elections shall be announced on Wednesday and in this connection, President Pervez Musharraf will   address to the nation explaining the circumstances forcing the govt. to postpone the elections.

The postponement is essential since the situation does not justify holding elections on January 8.  President Musharraf wants time for the candidates to participate properly in a peaceful atmosphere and to hire the news offices of the Election Commission.

The two main opposition parties have threatened continuous protests against the government if the elections are postponed. They do not realize that the country has passed through a tough time of riots and looting and the participants want some extra time to do justice to their participation.

Even otherwise, the members of Mr. Musharraf’s faction of the Pakistan Muslim League said recently that the elections could not be delayed for more than six weeks without risking fresh outbreaks of violence.

“Six weeks is just about the outer limit before the frustration really hurts Musharraf,” said a member of the president’s faction.

It became necessary even for the Election Commission to delay the process firstly because the rioters had damaged 11 election offices in Sindh Province, they burnt the offices and   the ballot papers could not be printed.

Under these circumstances, there is no other alternative but to postpone the elections to February, confirmed by Kunwar Muhammad Dilshad, Secretary of the Election Commission.

As regards the probe of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan Govt. has no objection if the investigation is carried out by an International Agency. The govt., in fact, wants that if the inquiry is taken up by an International Agency, it shall absolve them of the wrong allegations being leveled by the Opposition. They are ready for the international probe.