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/7086272.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Bhutto house surrounded by police | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The house of Pakistani opposition leader, Benazir Bhutto, has been surrounded by police, hours before her party is due to hold a mass rally. | |
| She has not been formally placed under house arrest, and police say the measure at her residence in Islamabad is for her own safety. | |
| Several thousand of her supporters are reported detained ahead of the rally planned to be held in Rawalpindi. | |
| Rallies are outlawed under the current emergency rule in Pakistan. | |
| There have also been warnings that the gathering could be targeted by suicide bombers. | |
| Ms Bhutto dismissed President Pervez Musharraf's pledge that elections will be held by 15 February as "vague". | Ms Bhutto dismissed President Pervez Musharraf's pledge that elections will be held by 15 February as "vague". |
| She also called for General Musharraf to give up his role as army chief. | She also called for General Musharraf to give up his role as army chief. |
| Ms Bhutto, head of the main opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP), said the new pledges did not go far enough. | Ms Bhutto, head of the main opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP), said the new pledges did not go far enough. |
| "We want an exact election date, schedule of elections and a clear date of Musharraf hanging up his uniform," she said. | "We want an exact election date, schedule of elections and a clear date of Musharraf hanging up his uniform," she said. |
| "This is yet another vague announcement. We want him to hang up his uniform by 15 November," she added. | "This is yet another vague announcement. We want him to hang up his uniform by 15 November," she added. |
| Suicide bomb warning | Suicide bomb warning |
| She had vowed to go ahead with a protest rally in Rawalpindi on Friday and then a march from Lahore to Islamabad on 13 November if Gen Musharraf does not meet these demands and end the state of emergency. | |
| You can't be the president and the head of the military at the same time President Bush to Gen Musharraf On the run with Imran Khan Who's winning power game | You can't be the president and the head of the military at the same time President Bush to Gen Musharraf On the run with Imran Khan Who's winning power game |
| The police chief of Rawalpindi, Saud Aziz, meanwhile warned that up to eight suicide bombers were in the city ahead of Friday's planned protest. | The police chief of Rawalpindi, Saud Aziz, meanwhile warned that up to eight suicide bombers were in the city ahead of Friday's planned protest. |
| "Naturally they will target big public meetings like what you have seen in Karachi," Mr Aziz told the AFP news agency. | "Naturally they will target big public meetings like what you have seen in Karachi," Mr Aziz told the AFP news agency. |
| Ms Bhutto survived an assassination attempt in Karachi on 18 October that killed nearly 140 people. | Ms Bhutto survived an assassination attempt in Karachi on 18 October that killed nearly 140 people. |
| Earlier the PPP said more than 700 party members had been arrested overnight ahead of the rally planned for Rawalpindi. | Earlier the PPP said more than 700 party members had been arrested overnight ahead of the rally planned for Rawalpindi. |
| The authorities have warned that police will not allow the demonstration to go ahead. | The authorities have warned that police will not allow the demonstration to go ahead. |
| 'Indispensable ally' | 'Indispensable ally' |
| Gen Musharraf announced his decision to hold parliamentary elections before 15 February hours after coming under pressure from US President George W Bush to hold elections in January, as scheduled. | Gen Musharraf announced his decision to hold parliamentary elections before 15 February hours after coming under pressure from US President George W Bush to hold elections in January, as scheduled. |
| The president imposed a state of emergency on Saturday, blaming militant violence and an unruly judiciary. | The president imposed a state of emergency on Saturday, blaming militant violence and an unruly judiciary. |
| Gen Musharraf imposed emergency rule after months of unrest | Gen Musharraf imposed emergency rule after months of unrest |
| On Wednesday, Mr Bush had telephoned the Pakistani leader to urge him to call off the state of emergency and stand down as head of the army. | On Wednesday, Mr Bush had telephoned the Pakistani leader to urge him to call off the state of emergency and stand down as head of the army. |
| "My message was that we believe strongly in elections and that you ought to have elections soon and you need to take off your uniform... so I had a very frank discussion with him," Mr Bush said. | "My message was that we believe strongly in elections and that you ought to have elections soon and you need to take off your uniform... so I had a very frank discussion with him," Mr Bush said. |
| But he also noted that Gen Musharraf had been an "indispensable ally". | But he also noted that Gen Musharraf had been an "indispensable ally". |
| Gen Musharraf told state media: "General elections in the country will be held by February 15 next year... It was my commitment and I am fulfilling it." | Gen Musharraf told state media: "General elections in the country will be held by February 15 next year... It was my commitment and I am fulfilling it." |
| He also renewed a pledge to quit as head of the army, if and when the Supreme Court validated his recent election as president for another term. | He also renewed a pledge to quit as head of the army, if and when the Supreme Court validated his recent election as president for another term. |
| "When they allow this notification, that is the time when I can take the oath as president and remove the uniform," he said after chairing a meeting of the National Security Council. | "When they allow this notification, that is the time when I can take the oath as president and remove the uniform," he said after chairing a meeting of the National Security Council. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The situation in Pakistan is deteriorating more than most people imagine Omer Salim Khan, Lahore Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The situation in Pakistan is deteriorating more than most people imagine Omer Salim Khan, Lahore Send us your comments |
| A government spokesman also said a media blackout would be eased, with international channels like the BBC and CNN allowed back on air. | A government spokesman also said a media blackout would be eased, with international channels like the BBC and CNN allowed back on air. |
| Meanwhile the man sacked by Gen Musharraf as chief justice of the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Chaudhry, has called on Pakistanis to forget their differences and stand up for the supremacy of the constitution. | Meanwhile the man sacked by Gen Musharraf as chief justice of the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Chaudhry, has called on Pakistanis to forget their differences and stand up for the supremacy of the constitution. |
| Speaking to the BBC, Justice Chaudhry said an independent judiciary was essential for democracy: | Speaking to the BBC, Justice Chaudhry said an independent judiciary was essential for democracy: |
| "The new chief justice and judges do not have a lawful constitutional position. As far as running any sort of campaign on the streets is concerned, our campaign will be run by the 160 million people of Pakistan and the political parties," he said. | "The new chief justice and judges do not have a lawful constitutional position. As far as running any sort of campaign on the streets is concerned, our campaign will be run by the 160 million people of Pakistan and the political parties," he said. |