This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7079402.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Pakistan 'to keep elections date' Pakistan 'to keep elections date'
(about 1 hour later)
Pakistan's prime minister says national elections will be held as scheduled, despite President Pervez Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule.Pakistan's prime minister says national elections will be held as scheduled, despite President Pervez Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule.
Elections are due by mid-January, but there were fears they might be abandoned because of the crisis.Elections are due by mid-January, but there were fears they might be abandoned because of the crisis.
Police have broken up street protests and hundreds of lawyers and opposition activists have been arrested.Police have broken up street protests and hundreds of lawyers and opposition activists have been arrested.
The US said it was "deeply disturbed" by events and urged Gen Musharraf to return to civilian rule.The US said it was "deeply disturbed" by events and urged Gen Musharraf to return to civilian rule.
The Pakistani president said he had declared the emergency to stop the country "committing suicide", because the country was in a crisis caused by militant violence and an unruly judiciary.The Pakistani president said he had declared the emergency to stop the country "committing suicide", because the country was in a crisis caused by militant violence and an unruly judiciary.
Critics, however, believe Gen Musharraf was acting to pre-empt a judgment by the Supreme Court on whether his re-election last month was legal.Critics, however, believe Gen Musharraf was acting to pre-empt a judgment by the Supreme Court on whether his re-election last month was legal.
Election timetableElection timetable
The government had suggested parliamentary polls could be delayed by up to a year.The government had suggested parliamentary polls could be delayed by up to a year.
EMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS Constitutional safeguards on life and liberty curtailedPolice get wide powers of arrestSuspects can be denied access to lawyersFreedom of movement restrictedPrivate TV stations taken off airNew rules curtail media coverage of suicide bombings or militant activityChief justice replaced, others made to swear oath of loyaltySupreme Court banned from rescinding emergency order href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7078591.stm">Eyewitness: Karachi protest href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7078844.stm">In pictures: Protests Media oppose emergency EMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS Constitutional safeguards on life and liberty curtailedPolice get wide powers of arrestSuspects can be denied access to lawyersFreedom of movement restrictedPrivate TV stations taken off airNew rules curtail media coverage of suicide bombings or militant activityChief justice replaced, others made to swear oath of loyaltySupreme Court banned from rescinding emergency order href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7079180.stm">People 'anxious and angry' href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7077505.stm">West faces new dilemma Media oppose emergency
But Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Monday that: "The next general elections will be held according to the schedule."But Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Monday that: "The next general elections will be held according to the schedule."
Attorney-General Malik Abdul Qayyum was more specific.Attorney-General Malik Abdul Qayyum was more specific.
"It has been decided there will be no delay in the election and by 15 November these assemblies will be dissolved and the election will be held within the next 60 days," he told Reuters news agency."It has been decided there will be no delay in the election and by 15 November these assemblies will be dissolved and the election will be held within the next 60 days," he told Reuters news agency.
Pakistan had come under heavy international pressure after Gen Musharraf imposed emergency rule on Saturday.Pakistan had come under heavy international pressure after Gen Musharraf imposed emergency rule on Saturday.
"We believe that the best path for Pakistan is to quickly return to a constitutional path and then to hold elections," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said during a visit to the Middle East."We believe that the best path for Pakistan is to quickly return to a constitutional path and then to hold elections," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said during a visit to the Middle East.
She urged Gen Musharraf to fulfil his pledge to step down as head of the army and return the country to civilian rule.She urged Gen Musharraf to fulfil his pledge to step down as head of the army and return the country to civilian rule.
But on Monday, the general gave his clearest indication yet that he was unlikely to give up his military post soon, even though he had been scheduled to do so this month.But on Monday, the general gave his clearest indication yet that he was unlikely to give up his military post soon, even though he had been scheduled to do so this month.
He told foreign diplomats in Islamabad that he would give up his military post "once we correct these pillars in judiciary and the executive and the parliament", according to comments broadcast on state-run television.He told foreign diplomats in Islamabad that he would give up his military post "once we correct these pillars in judiciary and the executive and the parliament", according to comments broadcast on state-run television.
'Further steps''Further steps'
The US has suspended defence co-operation talks with Pakistan set for this week and says it will review its multi-billion dollar aid programme.The US has suspended defence co-operation talks with Pakistan set for this week and says it will review its multi-billion dollar aid programme.
The UK, another major donor, says it is examining whether the emergency will affect its aid to Pakistan.The UK, another major donor, says it is examining whether the emergency will affect its aid to Pakistan.
Balance of power in PakistanBalance of power in Pakistan
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the announcement that elections would go ahead was welcome, but it must be accompanied by civilian rule and political freedoms.British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the announcement that elections would go ahead was welcome, but it must be accompanied by civilian rule and political freedoms.
The Netherlands became the first country to suspend aid, and the EU said its members were considering "possible further steps".The Netherlands became the first country to suspend aid, and the EU said its members were considering "possible further steps".
In Lahore on Monday an estimated 2,000 lawyers congregated to stage a rally protesting at the dismissal of top judges and restrictions on the judiciary, but several were reported wounded when police waded in with tear gas and baton charges.In Lahore on Monday an estimated 2,000 lawyers congregated to stage a rally protesting at the dismissal of top judges and restrictions on the judiciary, but several were reported wounded when police waded in with tear gas and baton charges.
Lawyers chanting anti-Musharraf slogans at a demonstration in Karachi were dragged off into police vans, says the BBC's M Ilyas Khan.Lawyers chanting anti-Musharraf slogans at a demonstration in Karachi were dragged off into police vans, says the BBC's M Ilyas Khan.
Demonstrations were also broken up in Rawalpindi.Demonstrations were also broken up in Rawalpindi.
House arrestHouse arrest
Lawyers' associations across the country said they were calling three days of protests and boycotts of courts.Lawyers' associations across the country said they were calling three days of protests and boycotts of courts.
Media reports, citing police and interior ministry sources, said some 1,500 people had been arrested in the past 48 hours, while many top judges were effectively under house arrest.Media reports, citing police and interior ministry sources, said some 1,500 people had been arrested in the past 48 hours, while many top judges were effectively under house arrest.
HAVE YOUR SAY I think Musharraf has about the most difficult job on the planet David Bradshaw, Ashford, United Kingdom Your views on emergency href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7077505.stm">West faces new dilemma href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7077136.stm">Declaration: Full text HAVE YOUR SAY I think Musharraf has about the most difficult job on the planet David Bradshaw, Ashford, United Kingdom Your views on emergency href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7078591.stm">Eyewitness: Karachi protest href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7078844.stm">In pictures: Protests
The Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami was among the groups targeted.The Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami was among the groups targeted.
Its leader, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, was under arrest, as were hundreds of members, the party said.Its leader, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, was under arrest, as were hundreds of members, the party said.
Information Minister Tariq Azim called those figures an exaggeration.Information Minister Tariq Azim called those figures an exaggeration.
He told the BBC that it was up to protesters to remain calm, or deal with the consequences.He told the BBC that it was up to protesters to remain calm, or deal with the consequences.
"If people take the law into their [own] hands, obviously, they have to be dealt with," he told the World Today."If people take the law into their [own] hands, obviously, they have to be dealt with," he told the World Today.
Pakistani TV news channels, which have huge audiences, are being prevented from broadcasting within the country, and at least one newspaper press was raided by police.Pakistani TV news channels, which have huge audiences, are being prevented from broadcasting within the country, and at least one newspaper press was raided by police.


Are you in Pakistan? Did you witness any of the reported police actions? Send us your accounts using the form below.Are you in Pakistan? Did you witness any of the reported police actions? Send us your accounts using the form below.
You can send pictures and video to:You can send pictures and video to:
yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Click here to see terms and conditions yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Click here to see terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Name:
Name: