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Bhutto house surrounded by police Bhutto house surrounded by police
(about 3 hours 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. Pakistani security forces have cordoned off the Islamabad home of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
She has not been formally placed under house arrest, and police say the measure at her residence in Islamabad is for her own safety. No warrant for her arrest has been issued, but the authorities have vowed to prevent a rally she was due to hold in the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi.
Several thousand of her supporters are reported detained ahead of the rally planned to be held in Rawalpindi. Such gatherings are outlawed under the current emergency rule in Pakistan.
Rallies are outlawed under the current emergency rule in Pakistan. Police have been deployed in large numbers in Rawalpindi, and many supporters of Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party have been arrested.
There have also been warnings that the protest, due to start at 1300 (0800GMT) could be targeted by suicide bombers. Police in riot gear blocked off the road to Ms Bhutto's house with barbed wire on Friday, with no-one being allowed in or out.
It is still unclear whether Ms Bhutto is actually under house arrest. The authorities say they are doing this for the former prime minister's own safety, and that suicide bombers were waiting to target the rally.
"She's free to go anywhere but if she tries to go to the rally she'll be stopped," said an anonymous government official quoted by Reuters news agency.
On Thursday, President Pervez Musharraf pledged that he would hold elections by 15 February, but Ms Bhutto dismissed his words as "vague".
She also called for General Musharraf to give up his role as army chief.
"This is yet another vague announcement. We want him to hang up his uniform by 15 November," said Ms Bhutto.
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 gameYou 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.
"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. But officials also say that they are determined to prevent her supporters from staging their demonstration.
The authorities have warned that police will not allow the demonstration to go ahead. She had vowed to go ahead with the Rawalpindi protest and then a march from Lahore to Islamabad on 13 November if President Pervez Musharraf does not end the state of emergency and step down as army chief.
On Thursday, President Pervez Musharraf pledged that he would hold elections by 15 February, but Ms Bhutto dismissed his words as "vague".
"This is yet another vague announcement. We want him to hang up his uniform by 15 November," said Ms Bhutto.
Earlier the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) said more than 700 party members had been arrested overnight ahead of the planned rally.
'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 unrestGen 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 commentsHAVE 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.