Dec. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said his party will boycott national elections next month after Benazir Bhutto was killed today, and he called on President Pervez Musharraf to quit as the nation's leader.

``We have decided to boycott elections in honor of Ms. Bhutto,'' Sharif told reporters in Islamabad this evening. ``Under the present circumstances and under Musharraf, neither is campaigning possible nor is a free election.''

Bhutto, 54, was killed in a suicide bomb attack on an election rally in Rawalpindi. At least 16 people were killed in the bombing and more than 60 injured, police said.

Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party and Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had said they would participate in parliamentary elections on Jan. 8 under protest, so as not to leave the field open for pro-Musharraf candidates. Musharraf had said he would ensure voting was free and fair after he lifted six weeks of emergency rule on Dec. 15.

Sharif called for a nationwide strike tomorrow to protest against Bhutto's killing.

``Peace is impossible under Musharraf,'' he said. ``Pakistan's unity is impossible under Musharraf. He is the root cause of all problems.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Khaleeq Ahmed in Islamabad, Pakistan at paknews@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: December 27, 2007 13:27 EST