A provincial court in Pakistan has postponed a hearing of a petition by the former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, against a law that bars her from contesting the general election next week.

Her lawyer requested the delay, saying other matters relating to elections were pending in a case before the Supreme Court, and they needed more time.

The case has been adjourned until 12 November, more than a month after the election.

Ms Bhutto's lawyers say she has filed three other petitions which still give her a slim chance of standing in the election.

The former prime minister is challenging a ruling that she should be disqualified on the grounds that she had failed to answer corruption charges under new rules introduced by the country's military government.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service