Pakistan's Election Commission on Saturday indicated that it may delay the next month's general elections in the country because of the widespread unrest in the country in the wake of the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto [Images].

The Commission will hold an emergent meeting on Monday during which it is expected to decide whether to go ahead with the planned elections on January 8.

"It is a matter of common knowledge that in the aftermath of the unfortunate assassination of Benazir Bhutto on December 27, the law and order situation in the country suffered deterioration," the Election Commission said in a statement.

The Commission said its offices in nine districts of the Sindh province were set on fire and all records, electoral rolls, ballot boxes and voting screens had been reduced to ashes.

"Additionally, all activities pertaining to pre-poll arrangements, including printing of ballot papers and logistics as well as training of polling personnel have been adversely affected," it said.

The situation in Kurram, which has witnessed fierce clashes between Shias and Sunnis that have claimed over 200 lives since last month, is not conducive to the conduct of polls.

Requests have been received for postponing polls in two constituencies of Kurram Agency, the Commission said.

"Similar position may emerge in Swat district, where a contesting candidate for the provincial assembly has died in a bomb blast," the statement said.

Former premier Nawaz Sharif's PML-N party decided to boycott the January 8 polls in the aftermath of the assassination.

Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party is expected to take a decision on participating in the polls during a meeting of its top leadership on Sunday.

The PML-Q, which backs President Pervez Musharraf [Images], is also divided on the issue of participating in the polls.
 While its leaders from Punjab want the polls to be held as scheduled, those from Sindh are seeking a postponement as they believe Bhutto's assassination will create a wave of sympathy for the PPP.

PML-Q secretary general Mushahid Hussain Sayed said the government could consider a "brief postponement" of about 40 days that would cover the period of mourning for Bhutto and the month of Moharram.

"Instead of a longish postponement, there should be a short postponement that would provide a breather from this huge national tragedy that took place," he said.

PML-Q leader and former foreign minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said if the PPP desires, the elections should be postponed.