World | Pakistan

Pakistan turmoil may delay polls

Al Qaida denies role as bitter dispute erupts between government and slain leader Bhutto's party over cause of death.

  • By Shahid Hussain, Correspondent
  • Published: 01:16 December 30, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • A supporter of Benazir Bhutto chants slogans as he jumps over a fire during an anti-government protest in Rawalpindi.
  • Image Credit: Reuters
Image 1 of 3
123

Islamabad: Pakistan's Election Commission is to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday, amid growing signs the January 8 parliamentary elections may be postponed due to the crisis following the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Mohammad Farooq announced the meeting, citing widespread violence after Thursday's killing of the Pakistan People's Party leader in a suicide attack in Rawalpindi. A bitter dispute erupted yesterday over how the opposition leader was killed.

Bhutto's party challenged the Pakistani government's version of the opposition leader's assassination and Al Qaida-linked militants denied being behind the killing of the 54-year-old leader.

"There was a bullet wound I saw from the back of her head and on the other side," Bhutto's spokeswoman Sherry Rehman, who was involved in washing her body for burial, said.

"This is ridiculous, dangerous nonsense because it is a cover-up of what actually happened."

  • Rate this article
  • Average reader rating (0 votes) 0 Stars
Tools

Emailing an article to friend is a simple way to share a news item. Your friend will receive an email with your name and email address as well any personal message you choose to send.

The information you provide on this page will not be used to send unsolicited emails.

This service is not intended to encourage spam, and action may be taken against individuals who maliciously enter personal details of another individual.

Share this article

Related Articles

  1. Benazir son to take up party mantle

    Benazir son to take up party mantle

    Benazir's son expected to take up Pakistan Peoples Party mantle

  2. Zardari could emerge kingmaker

    Zardari could emerge kingmaker

  3. Bush expected to stand by Musharraf

    Bush expected to stand by Musharraf

  4. Al Qaida militant denies killing Bhutto

    Al Qaida militant denies killing Bhutto

    Al Qaida militant denies involvement in Bhutto killing

  5. Fresh violence erupts in Pakistan

    Fresh violence erupts in Pakistan

    Bhutto supporters shot dead as chaos continues in Pakistan

  6. Conflicting reports on Bhutto's death

    Conflicting reports on Bhutto's death

    Conflicting reports on Bhutto's death

More from Pakistan

  1. Suicide bomb in Pakistan market kills 12

  2. House proposal to ensure peace in restive Balochistan

  3. Pakistan army action to end ahead of schedule

  4. Minister denies rift between PPP, MQM

All articles in Pakistan

More from World

Gulf News
Popular in World

More from world

News Editor's choice