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Bhutto house surrounded by police Bhutto house surrounded by police
(20 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 to prevent her from joining a planned mass rally.
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. A magistrate has gone into the house, saying he was serving a 30-day detention order on her.
Such gatherings are outlawed under emergency rule imposed last week. Officials have vowed to prevent the rally in nearby Rawalpindi.
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 the city. Such gatherings are outlawed under emergency rule imposed last week.
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.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.
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". Pakistani Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim told the BBC that she was being held "for her own security".
Benazir Bhutto wants elections to be held on schedulePolice 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.Benazir Bhutto wants elections to be held on schedulePolice 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.
"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 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.
Police have blocked main roads into Rawalpindi and closed streets around the rally venue.Police have blocked main roads into Rawalpindi and closed streets around the rally venue.
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.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.
'Indispensable ally''Indispensable ally'
On Thursday Gen Musharraf pledged that he would hold parliamentary elections by 15 February - a month later than scheduled.On Thursday Gen Musharraf pledged that he would hold parliamentary elections by 15 February - a month later than scheduled.
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.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.
HAVE YOUR SAY The situation in Pakistan is deteriorating more than most people imagine Omer Salim Khan, Lahore Send us your comments On the run with Imran Khan Who's winning power gameHAVE YOUR SAY The situation in Pakistan is deteriorating more than most people imagine Omer Salim Khan, Lahore Send us your comments On the run with Imran Khan Who's winning power game
However, Ms Bhutto dismissed his words as "vague".However, Ms Bhutto dismissed his words as "vague".
"This is yet another vague announcement. We want him to hang up his uniform by 15 November," she 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.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.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.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".
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.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.