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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan early poll 'impossible' | Pakistan early poll 'impossible' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The spokesman for Pakistan's election commission has said that holding parliamentary elections as scheduled on 8 January "looks impossible". | The spokesman for Pakistan's election commission has said that holding parliamentary elections as scheduled on 8 January "looks impossible". |
| But Kanwar Dilshad said the final decision would be reached on Wednesday after consulting political parties. | But Kanwar Dilshad said the final decision would be reached on Wednesday after consulting political parties. |
| The main opposition parties want the poll to go ahead as planned. | The main opposition parties want the poll to go ahead as planned. |
| The campaign was thrown into doubt by the assassination of the opposition leader, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and the violence that followed. | The campaign was thrown into doubt by the assassination of the opposition leader, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and the violence that followed. |
| There are no grounds whatsoever for delaying the elections Raza Rabbani, deputy secretary general, PPP | There are no grounds whatsoever for delaying the elections Raza Rabbani, deputy secretary general, PPP |
| Mr Dilshad told reporters that violent protests had directly affected the organisation of the poll in some parts of the country. | Mr Dilshad told reporters that violent protests had directly affected the organisation of the poll in some parts of the country. |
| "We will inform the political parties about the situation in Sindh where our 13 offices were burnt," he said. | "We will inform the political parties about the situation in Sindh where our 13 offices were burnt," he said. |
| "We will inform them about the ground realities and then we will fix a date in consultation with them." | "We will inform them about the ground realities and then we will fix a date in consultation with them." |
| But opposition parties were quick to condemn any delay as a desperate measure to avoid defeat by the governing pro-Musharraf party. | But opposition parties were quick to condemn any delay as a desperate measure to avoid defeat by the governing pro-Musharraf party. |
| "There are no grounds whatsoever for delaying the elections," said Raza Rabbani, deputy secretary general of Ms Bhutto's party, the PPP. | "There are no grounds whatsoever for delaying the elections," said Raza Rabbani, deputy secretary general of Ms Bhutto's party, the PPP. |
| "It is being done only at the behest of the PML-Q as they are seeing their defeat," he said. | "It is being done only at the behest of the PML-Q as they are seeing their defeat," he said. |
| The other main opposition leader, former PM Nawaz Sharif, vowed his party would "agitate" against a delay. | The other main opposition leader, former PM Nawaz Sharif, vowed his party would "agitate" against a delay. |
| The ruling PML-Q party has said the 8 January vote should be delayed for several weeks, on the grounds that the vote would "lose credibility" if held under current conditions. | The ruling PML-Q party has said the 8 January vote should be delayed for several weeks, on the grounds that the vote would "lose credibility" if held under current conditions. |
| On Monday US State Department spokesman Tom Casey said Washington wanted elections to go ahead as planned if they could be held in a "safe and secure" way. | On Monday US State Department spokesman Tom Casey said Washington wanted elections to go ahead as planned if they could be held in a "safe and secure" way. |
| 'One-man calamity' | 'One-man calamity' |
| Mr Sharif said his party would not accept the expected postponement. | Mr Sharif said his party would not accept the expected postponement. |
| Mr Dilshad said some electoral offices have been wrecked | Mr Dilshad said some electoral offices have been wrecked |
| He told a news conference that President Pervez Musharraf was a "one-man calamity" and should step down immediately. | He told a news conference that President Pervez Musharraf was a "one-man calamity" and should step down immediately. |
| Ms Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari, who has been nominated co-chair of the PPP along with their son, Bilawal, also said the elections should go ahead as planned. | |
| "There can be elections in Afghanistan when there is an al-Qaeda movement. Why can't there be elections in Pakistan and on time?" he asked in an interview with CNN. | "There can be elections in Afghanistan when there is an al-Qaeda movement. Why can't there be elections in Pakistan and on time?" he asked in an interview with CNN. |
| Bilawal Bhutto has returned to the family home in Dubai after succeeding his mother as head of the PPP two days earlier. | |
| PPP senator Babar Awan warned of dire consequences if the vote was postponed. | PPP senator Babar Awan warned of dire consequences if the vote was postponed. |
| "If elections are delayed, the constitution is violated, then this would amount (to an) opening of a floodgate of violence throughout the country," he said. | "If elections are delayed, the constitution is violated, then this would amount (to an) opening of a floodgate of violence throughout the country," he said. |
| At least 47 people have been killed in violence since Ms Bhutto's death. | At least 47 people have been killed in violence since Ms Bhutto's death. |
| Shares down | Shares down |
| But correspondents say that life has been returning to normal in much of Pakistan, with many shops and offices re-opening. | But correspondents say that life has been returning to normal in much of Pakistan, with many shops and offices re-opening. |
| PPP TOP LEADERS Asif Ali Zardari Benazir's widower and former political ally, has faced corruption and other chargesBilawal Bhutto (pictured) Benazir's son, a 19-year-old Oxford University student, considered too young by some PPP membersMakhdoom Amin Fahim Senior PPP figure and top aide to Benazir Successors' challengeReaders react to successionProfile: Asif Ali Zardari | PPP TOP LEADERS Asif Ali Zardari Benazir's widower and former political ally, has faced corruption and other chargesBilawal Bhutto (pictured) Benazir's son, a 19-year-old Oxford University student, considered too young by some PPP membersMakhdoom Amin Fahim Senior PPP figure and top aide to Benazir Successors' challengeReaders react to successionProfile: Asif Ali Zardari |
| The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says the PPP wants elections as soon as possible, in order to take advantage of what could be a big sympathy vote. | The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says the PPP wants elections as soon as possible, in order to take advantage of what could be a big sympathy vote. |
| The electoral commission has asked each of Pakistan's four provincial governments to compile reports on their readiness for an election. | The electoral commission has asked each of Pakistan's four provincial governments to compile reports on their readiness for an election. |
| At least 10 local election offices have been burnt down in the rioting which followed Benazir Bhutto's death. | At least 10 local election offices have been burnt down in the rioting which followed Benazir Bhutto's death. |
| Ballot boxes and voting screens have been destroyed and the printing of ballot papers - and their delivery around the country - has also been disrupted. | Ballot boxes and voting screens have been destroyed and the printing of ballot papers - and their delivery around the country - has also been disrupted. |
| If the election does go ahead, it is not clear who the PPP would propose as prime minister. | If the election does go ahead, it is not clear who the PPP would propose as prime minister. |
| At 19, Bilawal is legally too young to stand for parliament. | At 19, Bilawal is legally too young to stand for parliament. |
| And his father has been repeatedly accused of corruption - though he denies the charges and has never been convicted in court. | And his father has been repeatedly accused of corruption - though he denies the charges and has never been convicted in court. |
| Mr Zardari said PPP vice-chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim would probably be its candidate for prime minister. | Mr Zardari said PPP vice-chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim would probably be its candidate for prime minister. |