DarkTimes - 24Hr Global News Blog

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Slain former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) announced Wednesday that it had not decided on what choices it would make on the postponement of parliamentary elections.

Addressing a news conference, newly-elected Co-Chairman of the PPP Asif Ali Zardari said that his party had to consult with other political parties on elections postponement.

Some local media quoted party sources as saying that the PPP would still contest the elections despite the postponement.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on Wednesday that the polling date, which was originally set on Jan. 8, would be postponed till Feb. 18.

Zardari earlier said that any delay of the elections would be unacceptable to the PPP.

President Pervez Musharraf said at a televised address that the ECP was forced to come to its decision because of the damage incurred in riots following Bhutto's assassination.

Musharraf also disclosed that the government had invited a Scotland Yard forensic team to help probe Bhutto's assassination.

Zardari questioned why the Scotland Yard was not invited when Bhutto was attacked in Karachi on Oct. 19. Twin suicide bombing attacks hit Bhutto's procession, killing more than 140 people and injuring hundreds of others.