Police in Pakistan have arrested dozens of activists to prevent them joining a protest march that begins on Thursday, opposition leaders say.
Police in Pakistan have arrested dozens of activists to prevent them joining a protest march that begins on Thursday, opposition leaders say.
Political gatherings have also been banned in the two largest provinces - Sindh and Punjab.
Political gatherings have also been banned in the two largest provinces - Sindh and Punjab.
Opposition groups and lawyers have been mobilising support for the four-day march since 25 February.
Opposition groups and lawyers have been mobilising support for the four-day march since 25 February.
It was then that ex-PM Nawaz Sharif and his brother were barred by the Supreme Court from holding elective office.
It was then that ex-PM Nawaz Sharif and his brother were barred by the Supreme Court from holding elective office.
The Sharifs have blamed President Asif Ali Zardari for influencing the decision.
The Sharifs have blamed President Asif Ali Zardari for influencing the decision.
The protesters are also angry that judges sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf have not been reinstated.
The protesters are also angry that judges sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf have not been reinstated.
Into hiding
Into hiding
The marchers plan to stage an indefinite sit-in later this week in Islamabad and there are fears that there may be violent confrontations.
The marchers plan to stage an indefinite sit-in later this week in Islamabad and there are fears that there may be violent confrontations.
The government has issued orders to place senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders under house arrest, including party Chairman Raja Zafar-ul Haq, Information Secretary Ehsan Iqbal and President Ghulam Dastagir.
The government has issued orders to place senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders under house arrest, including party Chairman Raja Zafar-ul Haq, Information Secretary Ehsan Iqbal and President Ghulam Dastagir.
The PML-N insists that it is a democratic right to hold ralliesIt is not clear whether there are also orders to place PML-N head Nawaz Sharif and brother Shahbaz under detention.
The PML-N insists that it is a democratic right to hold ralliesIt is not clear whether there are also orders to place PML-N head Nawaz Sharif and brother Shahbaz under detention.
The pair are scheduled to hold a rally in the northern town of Abbotabad later on Wednesday.
The pair are scheduled to hold a rally in the northern town of Abbotabad later on Wednesday.
Reports from several cities in the eastern province of Punjab say that the police have arrested a large number of opposition workers to maintain public order.
Reports from several cities in the eastern province of Punjab say that the police have arrested a large number of opposition workers to maintain public order.
Raids have also been conducted on the residences of prominent lawyers and opposition legislators but most are reported to have gone into hiding to avoid arrest.
Raids have also been conducted on the residences of prominent lawyers and opposition legislators but most are reported to have gone into hiding to avoid arrest.
"We are avoiding arrest because we want to lead the march," a prominent lawyer, Aitezaz Ahsan, told local TV.
"We are avoiding arrest because we want to lead the march," a prominent lawyer, Aitezaz Ahsan, told local TV.
"I have left my home and many of my colleagues have done the same," he said.
"I have left my home and many of my colleagues have done the same," he said.
There was no immediate reaction from the government on the wave of arrests and the imposition of the ban on gatherings.
There was no immediate reaction from the government on the wave of arrests and the imposition of the ban on gatherings.
But lawyers and opposition groups said they would flout the ban and hold the gatherings because it was their "democratic right".
But lawyers and opposition groups said they would flout the ban and hold the gatherings because it was their "democratic right".
"If this [civilian] government bans political gatherings, then I don't see how it is different from the military regime of Gen Musharraf," Shahbaz Sharif, the former chief minister of Punjab, told the media.
"If this [civilian] government bans political gatherings, then I don't see how it is different from the military regime of Gen Musharraf," Shahbaz Sharif, the former chief minister of Punjab, told the media.
He was deposed last month after the court decision declaring him ineligible to hold office.
He was deposed last month after the court decision declaring him ineligible to hold office.
The lawyers are campaigning for the restoration of a former chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Chaudhry.
The lawyers are campaigning for the restoration of a former chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Chaudhry.
He was sacked along with some 60 other judges of the superior judiciary by Gen Musharraf in November 2007, sparking countrywide protests.
He was sacked along with some 60 other judges of the superior judiciary by Gen Musharraf in November 2007, sparking countrywide protests.
Are you in Pakistan? Have you been affected by the restrictions on political gatherings and arrests? Are you planning to take part in the rallies?
