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| Order to free Pakistan opposition | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Pakistan's top judge has ordered the immediate release of dozens of detained opposition supporters who have been taken into custody since 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. |
| He did so shortly after papers were filed 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. |
| This is a significant day for Pakistan PM Shaukat Aziz Timeline: Political rivals | This is a significant day for Pakistan PM Shaukat Aziz Timeline: Political rivals |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| PM 'confident' | PM 'confident' |
| 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 government has said it will abide by the Supreme Court order. It had argued that the detentions were necessary to maintain law and order. |
| Gen Musharraf says he will stay on as army chief if he is not re-elected | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 Sept: Date main opposition alliance to begin boycotting assemblies 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| Martial law fears | Martial law fears |
| Thursday's developments follow months of political uncertainty in Pakistan, with vocal opposition to military rule. | 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 | 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". | 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. |