Roadblocks were set up around Ms Bhutto’s Islamabad home

Source: BBC News

Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has been released from house arrest in the capital, Islamabad. The order was imposed early on Friday, blocking Ms Bhutto’s attempt to lead a rally against the emergency rule declared by President Pervez Musharraf.

The United States had criticised the house arrest, saying that she must be “permitted freedom of movement”.

Ms Bhutto has vowed to wage a campaign aimed at forcing Gen Musharraf to stand down as head of the army.

Democratic credentials

A three-day detention order was served on the former prime minister after she tried to cross the heavy police cordon set up outside her home on Friday.

Police had surrounded the house early in the morning with roadblocks and coils of barbed wire to prevent her from addressing a rally in the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi.

PPP supporters were rounded up by police in Islamabad on Friday

Under emergency rule announced last week, such public gatherings have been banned.

Officials said it was a temporary measure because of a fear of suicide bombers attacking the planned rally, and that it would be lifted by Saturday.

Last month a suicide bomber killed nearly 140 people at a mass gathering as Ms Bhutto returned home from exile.

Ms Bhutto made several attempts to leave her home but was turned back. She finally emerged to address the media through a megaphone from behind the barricades.

She repeated opposition demands that Gen Musharraf should lift the state of emergency, resign as army chief and hold elections by mid-January.

“We are calling for the revival of our constitution and respect for our judiciary,” she said.

“We are calling for General Musharraf to keep his commitment and retire as chief of army staff on 15 November.”

The BBC’s Chris Morris in Islamabad says it has been a good day for Ms Bhutto, bolstering her democratic credentials at a time when other opposition parties still believe she plans to do a deal with Gen Musharraf.

Our correspondent says she is putting him under pressure at home while his Western allies are putting him under pressure abroad.

White House concern

Ms Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) said 5,000 of its activists had been arrested since the weekend, and that police detained about 100 people outside her residence on Friday.

The United States, which has been the principal backer of Gen Musharraf in his fight against pro-Taleban militants, was quick to criticise the restrictions on Ms Bhutto.

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“Former Prime Minister Bhutto and other political party members must be permitted freedom of movement and all protesters released,” US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

“We remain concerned about the continued state of emergency and curtailment of basic freedoms, and urge Pakistan’s authorities to quickly return to constitutional order and democratic norms.”

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Tags: , Benazir Bhutto, House Arrest