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Court orders Pakistan releases Court orders Pakistan releases
(40 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 dozens of detained opposition supporters who have been taken into custody since 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. He did so shortly after papers were filed 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. This is a significant day for Pakistan PM Shaukat Aziz class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7014433.stm"> Timeline: Political rivals
Without delay Gen Musharraf will stand down as army chief if he is elected for another presidential term, but, if not, he will keep his military post, his lawyers have said.
"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
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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' PM 'confident'
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 government has said it will abide by the Supreme Court order. It had argued that the detentions were necessary to maintain law and order.
The chief justice has been at loggerheads with the president Gen Musharraf says he will stay on as army chief if he is not re-elected
"All those taken into custody under preventive laws will be freed," said Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim, the Associated Press news agency reports.
About 200 people have been taken into custody around Pakistan since late-night raids on Saturday, officials say.
Opposition parties say the number is much higher, and have expressed doubt that all their workers will be released.
Chief Justice Chaudhry - who was reinstated in August after Gen Musharraf tried to sack him - demanded to know who authorised the closure of roads into the capital to stop protests against Gen Musharraf.
Hours earlier, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and other senior figures from the government had filed President Musharraf's papers for the indirect vote on 6 October.
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
Mr Aziz said he was confident the president would win the election. "This is a significant day for Pakistan," he said.
Officials say Gen Musharraf's forms carry his name without his army rank, quashing speculation that the president has described himself as Gen (Retired) Pervez Musharraf.
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 also nominated a candidate, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, 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. Martial law fears
Thursday's developments follow months of political uncertainty in Pakistan, with vocal opposition to military rule.
The chief justice has been at loggerheads with the president
Earlier in the week, the US called on Gen Musharraf to ensure that forthcoming elections were free and fair, and described arrests of opposition activists as "troubling".
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.