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Pakistani ex-PM Sharif 'detained' Pakistani ex-PM Sharif 'detained'
(30 minutes later)
Pakistan opposition leader Nawaz Sharif has been placed under house arrest in the city of Lahore, his party has said.Pakistan opposition leader Nawaz Sharif has been placed under house arrest in the city of Lahore, his party has said.
But the interior ministry chief told the BBC there were no restrictions on Mr Sharif's movements.But the interior ministry chief told the BBC there were no restrictions on Mr Sharif's movements.
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. Former prime minister Mr Sharif had planned to lead a demonstration in Lahore ahead of a protest march on the capital, Islamabad, on Monday.
Pakistani riot police fired tear gas as the Lahore protest went ahead in defiance of a ban on rallies. Pakistani riot police fired tear gas at stone-throwing protesters as the Lahore demonstration went ahead.
"A senior police officer is here and he informed Mr Sharif that he's been detained for three days," said party spokesman Pervez Rasheed.
'Dismay''Dismay'
Riot police surrounded him home on Saturday night and reportedly baton-charged the politician's supporters when they came to protest. Riot police surrounded Mr Sharif's home on Saturday night before blocking all access roads and reportedly baton-charging his 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 authorities have banned rallies, citing a security threat
Pervez Rasheed, a spokesman for the detained politician's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), said: "A senior police officer is here and he informed Mr Sharif that he's been detained for three days."
Mr Sharif's brother, Shahbaz, also a senior politician, is said to be in hiding in the garrison city of Rawalpindi near Islamabad at a property also surrounded by police.
PML-N says a number of opposition leaders have also been placed under house arrest.
Mr Sharif has been a leader of a lawyers' 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.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.
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.
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. President Zardari - the widower of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto - promised to bring back the judges when he took office last year following his wife's assassination.
An anti-government protest in Lahore went ahead and turned violent Anti-government demonstrators from across Pakistan have been planning to converge on Islamabad for a sit-in outside parliament to demand the judges' reinstatement.
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. The government, led by Mr Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has set up roadblocks to seal the capital and halt what is being called a "long march". The authorities have banned political gatherings saying they could trigger violence.
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 President Zardari was using "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.
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. Gen Musharraf led a military coup in 1999 that ousted then-Prime Minister Sharif, and ruled until 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. The tensions between Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif date back to the 1990s, but the two formed a brief partnership in government after parliamentary elections in February 2008.
Mr Sharif's PML-N left 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.
Up to 14 gunmen took part in the attack which killed six policemen and a driver, and injured eight tour members.