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| Version 11 | Version 12 |
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| Pakistan ex-PM ignores 'arrest' | Pakistan ex-PM ignores 'arrest' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Pakistan opposition leader Nawaz Sharif has defied an apparent bid to put him under house arrest in Lahore ahead of a "march" on the capital Islamabad. | |
| Thousands of supporters joined him after he broke through a police barricade of his home to reach a rally. | |
| Police fired tear gas as protesters hurled stones. | |
| Sharif activists later managed to overcome barriers blocking access to the main highway to Islamabad and Mr Sharif left Lahore in a convoy. | |
| The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) supporters plan a "long march" to the capital to demand judges sacked by the former government be reinstated. | |
| "It's now a matter of the future of Pakistani nation and coming generations," Mr Sharif said earlier by telephone from his bullet-proof car. | |
| "How can we abandon our mission halfway?" | "How can we abandon our mission halfway?" |
| Mr Sharif is expected to arrive in Rawalpindi - near Islamabad -in the early hours of Monday. He is due to be joined there by his brother, Shahbaz Sharif, former chief minister of the Punjab, and leaders of the lawyers' movement. | |
| Police are said to be surrounding the property in Rawalpindi where his brother is believed to be staying. | Police are said to be surrounding the property in Rawalpindi where his brother is believed to be staying. |
| 'Fascist tactics' | 'Fascist tactics' |
| Sharif activists used mobile hydraulic lifts, apparently brought along for the purpose, to remove massive containers placed as obstacles on the highway. | |
| The house arrest is illegal and immoral, all these decisions are unconstitutional Nawaz Sharif A crisis about more than judgesIn pictures: Pakistan protestsDeja-vu in crackdown | The house arrest is illegal and immoral, all these decisions are unconstitutional Nawaz Sharif A crisis about more than judgesIn pictures: Pakistan protestsDeja-vu in crackdown |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett says it is not clear if Mr Sharif will be able to reach Islamabad, given the authorities have blocked routes leading to the capital. | |
| Ahead of the protest, the government has also arrested hundreds of opposition activists and banned rallies, saying they could trigger violence. | Ahead of the protest, the government has also arrested hundreds of opposition activists and banned rallies, saying they could trigger violence. |
| Our Islamabad correspondent says the campaign over the judges has become a power struggle between Mr Sharif and current President Asif Ali Zardari. | Our Islamabad correspondent says the campaign over the judges has become a power struggle between Mr Sharif and current President Asif Ali Zardari. |
| She says the unrest has alarmed the West, which wants Pakistan to focus on the battle against the Taleban on the Afghan border. | She says the unrest has alarmed the West, which wants Pakistan to focus on the battle against the Taleban on the Afghan border. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Early on Sunday, riot police blocked access roads to Mr Sharif's home and reportedly baton-charging his supporters. | Early on Sunday, riot police blocked access roads to Mr Sharif's home and reportedly baton-charging his supporters. |
| Leaving his home later in the morning, Mr Sharif told a crowd: "The house arrest is illegal and immoral. All these decisions are unconstitutional," reported AFP news agency. | Leaving his home later in the morning, Mr Sharif told a crowd: "The house arrest is illegal and immoral. All these decisions are unconstitutional," reported AFP news agency. |
| Party spokesman Ahsan Iqbal told the BBC: "A government which claims to be a democratic government is coming with such heavy-handed fascist tactics." | Party spokesman Ahsan Iqbal told the BBC: "A government which claims to be a democratic government is coming with such heavy-handed fascist tactics." |
| But interior ministry chief Rehman Malik told the BBC the police were outside Mr Sharif's home for his own protection because of the threat from terrorists. | But interior ministry chief Rehman Malik told the BBC the police were outside Mr Sharif's home for his own protection because of the threat from terrorists. |
| Long-running tensions | Long-running tensions |
| Mr Sharif was ousted as prime minister in 1999 during a coup by General Pervez Musharraf, who ruled until August 2008. | Mr Sharif was ousted as prime minister in 1999 during a coup by General Pervez Musharraf, who ruled until August 2008. |
| 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. | 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 party later left the alliance, complaining of reluctance by Mr Zardari's Pakistan People's Party to reinstate the judges sacked by the last government. | Mr Sharif's party later left the alliance, complaining of reluctance by Mr Zardari's Pakistan People's Party to reinstate the judges sacked by the last government. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Are you going to the protest? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you going to the protest? Send us your comments using the form below: |
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