Pakistani authorities surrounded former Prime Minister
Bhutto’s house in
Bhutto didn’t receive an official house arrest notice; CNN quotes a source close to Bhutto.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Railways Minister and close ally to Musharraf said: “She has been detained at home. This is temporary and is being done to stop her from going to the meeting,” Reuters reports.
Bhutto urged president Musharraf to restore the constitution, to set a date for the election, drop his uniform and release the people that were detained since Saturday.
Her house arrest comes just hours before the rally is
supposed to begin at
On Thursday Bhutto promised that she will go ahead with her plan and hold the rally although she received many warnings that it would not be allowed.
Police began late Thursday to take measures in
Bhutto’s house was surrounded by hundreds of police officers and Sen. Anwar Baig of the former prime minister’s Pakistan People’s Party said that she was being “illegally confined,” L.A. Times reports.
Musharraf told media on Thursday that he will held the election on February 15, a month later than the original deadline.
“I have been saying for the last few months that elections will be held on schedule. It was my commitment, and I am fulfilling it,” he said.
President Musharraf also said that he will drop his uniform but he didn’t say when that will happen.
President of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain told CNN Thursday that the state of emergency could continue for at least a month.
According to CNN the government took of the air for the second time CNN and British Broadcasting Corporation. This move comes 24 hours after the ban was lifted for two broadcasters.
Both sides believe that the rally could become violent.
Although Bhutto’s house was surrounded by police wearing batons, and party activists were detained, a dozen party officials were allowed to enter.
Raja Pervez Ashraf, senior PPP official and member of parliament said: “They are terrified of the PPP’s popularity.”