Musharraf Delays Election By Six Weeks

President Pervez Musharraf said yesterday that troops would stay on the streets of Pakistan's tense cities at least until a new election date of February 18. Parliamentary elections, intended to provide a transition to democracy after more than eight years of military rule, had been scheduled for January 8, but a controversial six-week delay was announced by the country's election commission.

The commission blamed riots in the wake of Benazir Bhutto's assassination for the postponement, saying 11 of its district offices had been damaged or destroyed, along with ballot boxes and other election material, particularly in Sindh province, the base of her Pakistan People's party.

Another factor for the delay was the onset of the Muslim holy month of Muharram, due to begin next week and last a lunar month. It has in the past been the occasion of friction between Pakistan's Sunni majority and Shia minority.

The main opposition parties condemned the delay as a government ploy to dissipate a wave of popular sympathy for the Bhutto family. However, opposition leaders confirmed they would take part in the elections.

In a televised address to the nation yesterday, Musharraf said he wanted the vote to be "free, fair, transparent and peaceful". He said troops and paramilitary "ranger" forces deployed in the aftermath of Bhutto's assassination last Thursday would stay in the most turbulent areas until the delayed election, and perhaps longer.

"At first, I had no intention of deploying the army in the country during the elections but now, due to the law and order situation, in my opinion it has become vital to utilise the army and the rangers," the president said. The troops would maintain law and order "up to the elections and even after the elections", he said. "No agitation or rioting will be allowed."

The PPP had threatened unrest if the vote was delayed, but immediately after Musharraf's announcement, Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's widower and now acting party chairman, urged calm. "We have decided to take part in the election," Zardari said. "People should be peaceful and express their anger through their ballots."

The other major opposition party, a faction of the Pakistan Muslim League led by the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, also said it would take part in the vote. It said it would consult the PPP and seek a joint demand for Musharraf's resignation prior to the election.

Last night, the foreign secretary, David Miliband, said: "It is vital that the government of Pakistan makes full use of the extended period before elections are held to ensure that all necessary arrangements are put in place so they are transparent and fair." He urged the release of all political prisoners and for "extensive" media freedom. He also called for comprehensive international monitoring of the election.

A report by the International Crisis Group thinktank yesterday argued that only Musharraf's resignation, the restoration of civil rights and the return to office of dozens of independent lawyers sacked last year could assure free elections and a peaceful transition to democracy.

"By continuing to back him," it concluded, "western governments might not just lose the battle for Pakistani hearts and minds, but could be faced with the prospect of a nuclear-armed, Muslim-majority country of 165 million descending into violent internal conflict from which only extremist forces would stand to gain."

Western officials say it is unrealistic to expect Musharraf to resign, and that elections, even if imperfect, would dilute his power and represent a step towards a more democratic political system.