Pakistan election officials recommended on Tuesday that parliamentary polls scheduled for next week be delayed for an unspecified period following unrest triggered by the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

Kanwar Dilshad, secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan, was expected to announce a new election date on Tuesday, but he later delayed the final decision to Wednesday. However, Mr Dilshad said a recommendation “has been sent to the government for a delay” in the January 8 polls.