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Pakistani ex-PM Sharif 'detained' Pakistani ex-PM Sharif 'detained'
(10 minutes later)
Pakistani opposition leader Nawaz Sharif has been placed under house arrest, his party has said. Pakistan opposition leader Nawaz Sharif has been placed under house arrest in the city of Lahore, his party has said.
Police have surrounded his home in the city of Lahore. But the interior ministry chief told the BBC there were no restrictions Mr Sharif's movements. But the interior ministry chief told the BBC there were no restrictions on Mr Sharif's movements.
Mr Sharif, a former prime minister, had planned to lead a protest march on the capital, Islamabad, on Monday. A former prime minister, Mr Sharif had planned to lead a demonstration in Lahore ahead of a protest march on the capital, Islamabad, on Monday.
Tensions between President Asif Ali Zardari's government and Mr Sharif's party have risen in recent months. Pakistani riot police fired tear gas as the Lahore protest went ahead in defiance of a ban on rallies.
'Dismay'
Riot police surrounded Mr Sharif's home on Saturday night, hours before he was to address a demonstration in Lahore.
"A senior police officer is here and he informed Mr Sharif that he's been detained for three days," said party spokesman Pervez Rasheed."A senior police officer is here and he informed Mr Sharif that he's been detained for three days," said party spokesman Pervez Rasheed.
According to Pakistani media, police baton-charged the politician's supporters when they came to protest. 'Dismay'
His brother, Shahbaz, also a senior politician, is said to be in hiding the garrison city of Rawalpindi near Islamabad. Riot police surrounded him home on Saturday night and reportedly baton-charged the politician's supporters when they came to protest.
Mr Sharif has been a leader of the campaign to reinstate judges who were sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the protests over the judges have become the arena for a power struggle between Mr Sharif and current President Asif Ali Zardari.
Mr Sharif's brother, Shahbaz, also a senior politician, is said to be in hiding the garrison city of Rawalpindi near Islamabad.
Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) says a number of opposition leaders have also been placed under house arrest.Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) says a number of opposition leaders have also been placed under house arrest.
Mr Sharif has been part of the campaign to reinstate judges who were sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf. He has vowed to keep up demonstrations until the judges are brought back, in line with a promise made by President Zardari when he took office last year.
Mr Sharif has vowed to keep up demonstrations until the judges are brought back, in line with a promise made by President Zardari when he took office last year.
The protests over the judges have become the arena for a power struggle between Mr Sharif and President Zardari, says the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad.
Anti-government demonstrators from across Pakistan have been planning to converge on Islamabad for a sit-in to demand the judges' reinstatement.Anti-government demonstrators from across Pakistan have been planning to converge on Islamabad for a sit-in to demand the judges' reinstatement.
'Totally free''Totally free'
The government, led by Mr Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has set up roadblocks to halt what is being called a "long march", and banned political gatherings saying they could trigger violence.The government, led by Mr Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has set up roadblocks to halt what is being called a "long march", and banned political gatherings saying they could trigger violence.
Rallies calling for the reinstatement of sacked judges have been bannedRallies calling for the reinstatement of sacked judges have been banned
Our correspondent says the authorities are determined to prevent activists from reaching Islamabad and so far have broken up the main procession by arresting protesters and blocking roads, and the capital has been sealed.Our correspondent says the authorities are determined to prevent activists from reaching Islamabad and so far have broken up the main procession by arresting protesters and blocking roads, and the capital has been sealed.
PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal told the BBC: "We are very dismayed, disappointed that this government of President Zardari is using all these undemocratic measures... to crack down on a very peaceful movement."PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal told the BBC: "We are very dismayed, disappointed that this government of President Zardari is using all these undemocratic measures... to crack down on a very peaceful movement."
But interior ministry chief Rehman Malik told the BBC Mr Sharif was free to go anywhere and the police outside his house were for his own protection.But interior ministry chief Rehman Malik told the BBC Mr Sharif was free to go anywhere and the police outside his house were for his own protection.
"I categorically confirm no restraining orders, no arrest warrant, no house arrest. He's totally free to move anywhere in the country," Mr Malik said."I categorically confirm no restraining orders, no arrest warrant, no house arrest. He's totally free to move anywhere in the country," Mr Malik said.
He added: "We are under heavy threat of the terrorists... and that has been conveyed to Mr Nawaz Sahirf, Shahbaz Sharif and other political leaders."He added: "We are under heavy threat of the terrorists... and that has been conveyed to Mr Nawaz Sahirf, Shahbaz Sharif and other political leaders."
From hiding, the party's secretary general, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, told the BBC that President Zardari was a "civilian dictator" who was trying to outdo his predecessor President Musharraf.From hiding, the party's secretary general, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, told the BBC that President Zardari was a "civilian dictator" who was trying to outdo his predecessor President Musharraf.
Gen Musharraf led a military coup in 1999 that ousted then-Prime Minister Sharif, and ruled until 2008.Gen Musharraf led a military coup in 1999 that ousted then-Prime Minister Sharif, and ruled until 2008.
Long-running tensionsLong-running tensions
The tensions between Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif date back to the 1990s, but the two formed a brief partnership in government following parliamentary elections in February 2008.The tensions between Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif date back to the 1990s, but the two formed a brief partnership in government following parliamentary elections in February 2008.
Deja-vu in crackdownQ&A: Pakistan political instabilityDeja-vu in crackdownQ&A: Pakistan political instability
Mr Sharif's PML-N withdrew from the alliance in August 2008, complaining about the PPP's reluctance to reinstate former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and other judges sacked by President Musharraf.Mr Sharif's PML-N withdrew from the alliance in August 2008, complaining about the PPP's reluctance to reinstate former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and other judges sacked by President Musharraf.
Relations have been further strained in recent weeks by a Supreme Court decision to ban Mr Sharif and his brother Shahbaz from elected office, and President Zardari's decision to put their stronghold in Punjab province under direct rule from Islamabad.Relations have been further strained in recent weeks by a Supreme Court decision to ban Mr Sharif and his brother Shahbaz from elected office, and President Zardari's decision to put their stronghold in Punjab province under direct rule from Islamabad.
Shahbaz Sharif was Punjab's chief minister.Shahbaz Sharif was Punjab's chief minister.
But on Saturday, in a move seen as a conciliatory gesture, the government agreed to seek a review of the Supreme Court ruling.But on Saturday, in a move seen as a conciliatory gesture, the government agreed to seek a review of the Supreme Court ruling.
The political instability comes as Pakistan faces an economic crisis and a growing militant insurgency based in the north-west.The political instability comes as Pakistan faces an economic crisis and a growing militant insurgency based in the north-west.
In a sign that the militancy is spreading, the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked in Lahore earlier in March.In a sign that the militancy is spreading, the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked in Lahore earlier in March.
Up to 14 gunmen took part in the attack which killed six policemen and a driver, and injured eight tour members.Up to 14 gunmen took part in the attack which killed six policemen and a driver, and injured eight tour members.