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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Court orders Pakistan releases | Court orders Pakistan releases |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Pakistan's top judge has ordered the immediate release of detained opposition figures who were taken into custody over the weekend. | Pakistan's top judge has ordered the immediate release of detained opposition figures who were taken into custody over the weekend. |
| Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry made the ruling after summoning police and government officials to court. | Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry made the ruling after summoning police and government officials to court. |
| Pakistan's PM on Thursday filed papers naming Gen Musharraf to contest presidential elections on 6 October. | Pakistan's PM on Thursday filed papers naming Gen Musharraf to contest presidential elections on 6 October. |
| The Supreme Court is to decide whether he can stand for election while holding the posts of president and army chief. | The Supreme Court is to decide whether he can stand for election while holding the posts of president and army chief. |
| Gen Musharraf has said he will stay on as head of the army if he is not elected for another presidential term. | Gen Musharraf has said he will stay on as head of the army if he is not elected for another presidential term. |
| Without delay | Without delay |
| "The court has ordered authorities to free political workers and leaders who were taken into custody for the maintenance of public order," a senior police officer who attended the court hearing told the AFP news agency. | "The court has ordered authorities to free political workers and leaders who were taken into custody for the maintenance of public order," a senior police officer who attended the court hearing told the AFP news agency. |
| KEY DATES 29 Sep: Date some opposition parties to begin boycotting parliament 06 Oct: Presidential vote to be held, election commission says 18 Oct: Date ex-PM Benazir Bhutto has set for her homecoming 15 Nov: Parliamentary term ends and general election must be held Timeline: Political rivals | KEY DATES 29 Sep: Date some opposition parties to begin boycotting parliament 06 Oct: Presidential vote to be held, election commission says 18 Oct: Date ex-PM Benazir Bhutto has set for her homecoming 15 Nov: Parliamentary term ends and general election must be held Timeline: Political rivals |
| He said that Chief Justice Chaudhry - who was reinstated in August after Gen Musharraf tried to sack him - said that the men should be released without delay. | He said that Chief Justice Chaudhry - who was reinstated in August after Gen Musharraf tried to sack him - said that the men should be released without delay. |
| Chief Justice Chaudhry also demanded to know who authorised the closure of roads into the capital to stop protests against Gen Musharraf. | Chief Justice Chaudhry also demanded to know who authorised the closure of roads into the capital to stop protests against Gen Musharraf. |
| At least 200 people were arrested over the weekend. The government defended the detentions as necessary to maintain law and order. | At least 200 people were arrested over the weekend. The government defended the detentions as necessary to maintain law and order. |
| The court order came as Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and other senior figures from the government filed President Musharraf's papers for the indirect vote on 6 October. | The court order came as Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and other senior figures from the government filed President Musharraf's papers for the indirect vote on 6 October. |
| Correspondents say Gen Musharraf's nomination papers were filed amid political uncertainty in Pakistan - growing opposition to military rule has also come to a head. | Correspondents say Gen Musharraf's nomination papers were filed amid political uncertainty in Pakistan - growing opposition to military rule has also come to a head. |
| Gen Musharraf says he will stay on as army chief if he is not re-elected | |
| The US has called on Gen Musharraf to ensure that forthcoming elections are free and fair. | The US has called on Gen Musharraf to ensure that forthcoming elections are free and fair. |
| Prime Minister Aziz said he was confident that the president would win the election. | Prime Minister Aziz said he was confident that the president would win the election. |
| "This is a significant day for Pakistan," he told a TV reporter. | "This is a significant day for Pakistan," he told a TV reporter. |
| "President Pervez Musharraf is the candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League and its allies and we are fully confident that he will succeed," Reuters quoted him as saying. | "President Pervez Musharraf is the candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League and its allies and we are fully confident that he will succeed," Reuters quoted him as saying. |
| Pakistan's president is not elected by the people, but by a ballot of federal and provincial assemblies. | Pakistan's president is not elected by the people, but by a ballot of federal and provincial assemblies. |
| 'Troubling' | 'Troubling' |
| Pakistan federal information minister Tariq Azim said Gen Musharraf's forms carry his name without his army rank, quashing speculation that the president has described himself as Gen (Retired) Pervez Musharraf. | Pakistan federal information minister Tariq Azim said Gen Musharraf's forms carry his name without his army rank, quashing speculation that the president has described himself as Gen (Retired) Pervez Musharraf. |
| The chief justice has been at loggerheads with the president | |
| Retired judge Wajihuddin Ahmed has also filed his nomination for the presidential ballot. Analysts say he has little chance of beating Gen Musharraf. | Retired judge Wajihuddin Ahmed has also filed his nomination for the presidential ballot. Analysts say he has little chance of beating Gen Musharraf. |
| The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of Benazir Bhutto is also expected to nominate a candidate, who it says will run if the Supreme Courts bars Gen Musharraf from standing and the election still goes ahead. | The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of Benazir Bhutto is also expected to nominate a candidate, who it says will run if the Supreme Courts bars Gen Musharraf from standing and the election still goes ahead. |
| Facing Supreme Court challenges, Gen Musharraf has promised to resign as head of the army if he is elected president for another term. | Facing Supreme Court challenges, Gen Musharraf has promised to resign as head of the army if he is elected president for another term. |
| Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum has denied the president has any plans to impose martial law if his re-election strategy does not go according to plan. | Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum has denied the president has any plans to impose martial law if his re-election strategy does not go according to plan. |
| Correspondents say the big question now is what happens if he is not elected. | Correspondents say the big question now is what happens if he is not elected. |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the general is determined to prevent the opposition from taking to the streets to protest against his election bid. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the general is determined to prevent the opposition from taking to the streets to protest against his election bid. |
| Critics have said he is determined to cling to power, either as president or army chief, or both. | Critics have said he is determined to cling to power, either as president or army chief, or both. |