This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7944444.stm

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Pakistani ex-PM Nawaz Sharif held Pakistani ex-PM Nawaz Sharif held
(30 minutes later)
Pakistani opposition leader Nawaz Sharif has been placed under house arrest, his party officials have said.Pakistani opposition leader Nawaz Sharif has been placed under house arrest, his party officials have said.
Mr Sharif, a former prime minister, had pledged to go ahead with a rally in the capital, Islamabad, by lawyers and opposition activists on Monday. Mr Sharif, a former prime minister, had pledged to go ahead with march on the capital, Islamabad, by lawyers and opposition activists on Monday.
Mr Sharif had thrown his weight behind attempts to reinstate judges sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf.Mr Sharif had thrown his weight behind attempts to reinstate judges sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf.
Tensions between President Asif Ali Zardari's government and Mr Sharif's party have risen in recent months.Tensions between President Asif Ali Zardari's government and Mr Sharif's party have risen in recent months.
The government, led by Mr Zardari's Pakistan Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has banned political gatherings saying they could trigger violence. Riot police surrounded Mr Sharif's home in the eastern city of Lahore just hours before he was to address a protest rally there.
A number of other opposition leaders have also been placed under house arrest.
There has been no comment from the government on the detentions.
'Dismay''Dismay'
Several other opposition leaders were placed under house arrest on Sunday, a spokesman for Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) told the BBC. Anti-government protesters from across Pakistan have been planning to converge on Islamabad for a sit-in to demand the judges' reinstatement.
The government, led by Mr Zardari's Pakistan 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
The spokesman, Ahsan Iqbal, called the move "undemocratic". A spokesman for Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) called the moves "undemocratic".
"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," he said. "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," Ahsan Iqbal told the BBC.
He added that roadblocks had been set up across the country to stop marchers from rallying in Islamabad on Monday. From hiding, the secretary general of the PML-N, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra told the BBC that President Zardari was a "civilian dictator" who was trying to outdo Gen Musharraf.
Another spokesman for Mr Sharif said hundreds of police were surrounding the opposition leader's house in the eastern city of Lahore. The general led a military coup in 1999 that ousted then-Prime Minister Sharif, and ruled until 2008.
Long-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.
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.
Deja-vu in crackdownQ&A: Pakistan political instabilityDeja-vu in crackdownQ&A: Pakistan political instability
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.
However earlier, in a move seen as a conciliatory gesture, the government had said it would seek a review of the Supreme Court ruling.However earlier, in a move seen as a conciliatory gesture, the government had said it would seek a review of the Supreme Court ruling.
Mr Sharif has vowed to keep up demonstrations until the judges are reinstated, 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 reinstated, in line with a promise made by President Zardari when he took office last year.
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.