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| Pakistan tension ahead of rallies | Pakistan tension ahead of rallies |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Security forces in Pakistan are on alert ahead of expected anti-government protests on Thursday. | Security forces in Pakistan are on alert ahead of expected anti-government protests on Thursday. |
| Scores of activists have been held in Punjab province ahead of protests over the suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, the opposition says. | Scores of activists have been held in Punjab province ahead of protests over the suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, the opposition says. |
| Rallies are also expected in the capital, Islamabad. | Rallies are also expected in the capital, Islamabad. |
| Analysts say the recent campaign of protests represents the most serious challenge to President Musharraf since he seized power in a coup in 1999. | Analysts say the recent campaign of protests represents the most serious challenge to President Musharraf since he seized power in a coup in 1999. |
| Gen Musharraf is expected to file his reply to Mr Chaudhry's affidavit in the Supreme Court that he was "illegally detained" by the country's secret police. | |
| According to the court affidavit, a copy of which the BBC has seen, the heads of three Pakistani intelligence services spent five hours putting pressure on Mr Chaudhry to resign. | |
| President Musharraf suspended the judge in March for alleged misconduct, an act Mr Chaudhry's supporters say was an attempt to suppress a free judiciary. | President Musharraf suspended the judge in March for alleged misconduct, an act Mr Chaudhry's supporters say was an attempt to suppress a free judiciary. |
| On Monday Gen Musharraf introduced new controls on the media, which he has strongly criticised in recent weeks for their coverage of opposition protests. | On Monday Gen Musharraf introduced new controls on the media, which he has strongly criticised in recent weeks for their coverage of opposition protests. |
| The new rules had led to protests by hundreds of journalists and opposition activists in the capital, Islamabad. | The new rules had led to protests by hundreds of journalists and opposition activists in the capital, Islamabad. |
| Media ordinance | Media ordinance |
| The interior ministry has confirmed a number of opposition activists had been detained. | The interior ministry has confirmed a number of opposition activists had been detained. |
| "Some arrests have been made in Punjab where the government feels they were necessary to maintain law and order," the ministry's spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema told reporters. | "Some arrests have been made in Punjab where the government feels they were necessary to maintain law and order," the ministry's spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema told reporters. |
| Shah Mehmood Qureshi, of the Pakistan People's Party, which is planning Thursday's rallies, said it was a "massive crackdown". | Shah Mehmood Qureshi, of the Pakistan People's Party, which is planning Thursday's rallies, said it was a "massive crackdown". |
| Opposition to Gen Musharraf is focusing around Mr Chaudhry | Opposition to Gen Musharraf is focusing around Mr Chaudhry |
| He said: "The dictatorship is now showing its real face but we'll not back down, we will fight." | He said: "The dictatorship is now showing its real face but we'll not back down, we will fight." |
| Gen Musharraf said he suspended Mr Chaudhry because the chief justice was guilty of misuse of office. | Gen Musharraf said he suspended Mr Chaudhry because the chief justice was guilty of misuse of office. |
| Judge Chaudhry's supporters said Gen Musharraf was trying to muzzle the independence of the judiciary in an election year. | Judge Chaudhry's supporters said Gen Musharraf was trying to muzzle the independence of the judiciary in an election year. |
| Most of Pakistan's legal community came out in open support of the judge. They were soon joined by Pakistan's religious and secular opposition parties. | Most of Pakistan's legal community came out in open support of the judge. They were soon joined by Pakistan's religious and secular opposition parties. |
| Many of their protests have resulted in bloodshed. | Many of their protests have resulted in bloodshed. |
| The new media controls tighten the rules on electronic broadcasting. | The new media controls tighten the rules on electronic broadcasting. |
| The ordinance allows the government to seal the offices of broadcasters breaking the regulations. | The ordinance allows the government to seal the offices of broadcasters breaking the regulations. |