Pakistan's caretaker government on Monday authorised Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro to take a decision regarding any change of the schedule for the general election based on the recommendations of the Election Commission.

The federal cabinet made this recommendation after a presentation by Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz Khan on the law and order situation in the country, in the wake of the violent protests against the assassination of Pakistan People's Party chief Benazir Bhutto last week.

The cabinet was informed that the Election Commission was reviewing the current situation based on information it had gathered from the four provinces, said an official release.

The cabinet decided to "extend every possible help and assistance to the Election Commission as required by it for conducting free, fair and transparent elections".

Earlier, the Election Commission decided in principle to delay the parliamentary polls till the third week of February in view of its preparations being adversely affected by the recent protests.

The poll panel made the decision during an informal meeting, after receiving reports from poll officials and caretaker governments in the provinces, about the impact of the protests on election arrangements and the law and order situation.

The Election Commission is expected to make a formal announcement about the postponement of the polls when it meets again on Tuesday morning.