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 4 Version 5
Bhutto house surrounded by police Bhutto house surrounded by police
(30 minutes later)
Pakistani security forces have cordoned off the Islamabad home of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.Pakistani security forces have cordoned off the Islamabad home of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
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.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.
Such gatherings are outlawed under the current emergency rule in Pakistan. Such gatherings are outlawed under emergency rule imposed last week.
Police have been deployed in large numbers in Rawalpindi, and many supporters of Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party have been arrested.Police have been deployed in large numbers in Rawalpindi, and many supporters of Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party have been arrested.
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. Officers in riot gear blocked off the road to the former prime minister's house with barbed wire on Friday, with no-one being allowed in or out.
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. Pakistani Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim told the BBC that she was "neither under house arrest nor detained" but was being held "for her own security".
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
Ms Bhutto survived an assassination attempt in Karachi on 18 October that killed nearly 140 people. Police say suicide bombers were planning to target the Rawalpindi rally. Last month Ms Bhutto survived an assassination attempt in Karachi that killed nearly 140 people.
But officials also say that they are determined to prevent her supporters from staging their demonstration. "She is being asked not to take out this rally or procession in view of the security threats that we have and keeping in mind what happened (on) 18 October," Mr Azim said.
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. Police have blocked main roads into Rawalpindi and closed streets around the rally venue.
On Thursday, President Pervez Musharraf pledged that he would hold elections by 15 February, but Ms Bhutto dismissed his words as "vague". Ms Bhutto 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.
"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. On Thursday Gen Musharraf pledged that he would hold parliamentary elections by 15 February - a month later than scheduled.
The president imposed a state of emergency on Saturday, blaming militant violence and an unruly judiciary. He also renewed a promise to quit as head of the army, if and when the Supreme Court validated his recent election as president for another term.
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. However, Ms Bhutto dismissed his words as "vague".
"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. "This is yet another vague announcement. We want him to hang up his uniform by 15 November," she said.
Gen Musharraf announced his decision to hold elections after coming under pressure from US President George W Bush.
The general imposed a state of emergency on Saturday, blaming militant violence and an unruly judiciary.
On Wednesday, Mr Bush telephoned the Pakistani leader to urge him to call off the state of emergency and stand down as head of the army.
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."
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.
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 media blackout is again in force a day after it was eased - with international channels like the BBC and CNN temporarily allowed back on air on Thursday.
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.