Pakistan has asked Britain's Scotland Yard to help investigate the killing of Benazir Bhutto, President Pervez Musharraf said Wednesday, hours after officials announced a six-week election delay because of turmoil caused by her death.

President Pervez Musharraf delivers his televised address Wednesday in Islamabad, announcing that he had requested Britain's Scotland Yard to assist an investigation into the killing of Benazir Bhutto.
(Pakistan Press Information/Associated Press)

The parliamentary election originally planned for next Tuesday will be postponed to Feb. 18.

Opposition parties condemned the delay, but said they would still participate in the vote.

"We have decided to take part in the election," said Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's husband and now the leader of Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party. "People should be peaceful and express their anger through their ballots."

In a televised public address, Musharraf said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown accepted his request to send a team of investigators to Pakistan immediately to assist local officers.

He also denounced "many miscreants and some political elements" for taking advantage of the tragedy to loot and plunder and vowed to crack down on anyone who disrupts law and order.

"This situation is intolerable and the government has to tackle it and stop it forcefully with an iron hand. Immediate action is required in this situation," Musharraf said.

He blamed "terrorists" for Bhutto's death. The army and paramilitary will be deployed until the election to ensure the vote is peaceful, Musharraf said.

Opposition parties condemn delay

Qazi Mohammed Farooq, head of the election commission, talks to the media during a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday.
(Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press)

The election was originally slated for Jan. 8, but Qazi Mohammed Farooq, head of Pakistan's election commission, said it would be impossible to hold it on that day because of the chaos following the death of Bhutto.

Days of unrest followed Bhutto's slaying, leaving at least 58 dead. Among the violence, at least 10 election offices burned. The printing and distribution of ballots were also stopped.

"For a few days, the election process came to a complete halt," he told reporters at a news conference.

Farooq said the commission decided to delay the vote until after the holy month of Muharram, which runs from Jan. 10 to Feb. 8.

He also assured opposition parties that the election will be clean and transparent and urged them to support the date.

But even though Bhutto's party, the Pakistan Peoples Party, committed to take part in the election, one executive committee member said they believe the government was not sincere in its pledge to hold a fair election.

Delay could lead to more violence

Opposition parties have accused the Pakistan government of postponing the election to help the ruling party, allied to Musharraf, and worry the election delay could lead to more violence.

Many believe Bhutto's party would have seen a boost from sympathy votes if the election took place next Tuesday as originally planned.

Bhutto, who died in a suicide bomb and gun attack in the city of Rawalpindi, had accused elements of the ruling party of plotting to kill her, a charge they deny.

The party, now headed by her son and husband, had demanded the election take place as planned.

Western countries, including the U.S., had also urged Pakistan to keep the original election date.

The country has been in turmoil since Musharraf imposed emergency rule in early November. The month-long suspension of the constitution saw the president strip the Supreme Court of independent judges and crack down on opposition politicians.

Responding to growing pressure, Musharraf stepped down from his role as army chief on Nov. 28 and later ended the state of emergency.

With files from the Associated Press