Pakistan

Pakistan’s general election, delayed by six weeks to Feb. 18, will be transparent, President Pervez Musharraf said on national television. “I have always said elections will be free, fair and transparent,” Musharraf said. “We also must ensure elections are peaceful.” The voting for members of parliament is supposed to restore democracy after eight years of one-man rule. Musharraf said the postponement, from Jan. 8, was necessary because of the “turmoil” that swept Pakistan after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto on Dec. 27. He called the killing a tragedy. (Bloomberg)