PPP’s bid foiled to hold rally
BB released after brief house arrest
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was freed from house arrest late on Friday, after being stopped from leaving her home in Islamabad to lead a rally against President Pervez Musharraf’s imposition of emergency rule earlier in the day.
“The detention order has been withdrawn,” Aamir Ali Ahmed, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad, said.
Former prime minister and Chairperson Pakistan People Party Benazir Bhutto has been placed under house arrest on Friday morning to prevent her from holding a rally at Liaqat Bagh in Rawalpindi against the state of emergency promulgated by President Pervez Musharraf.
The Zardari House in F-8/2, where Benazir Bhutto is residing, has been cordoned off by a large number of policemen and barbed wires have been erected alongside her home. A senior magistrate early Friday morning entered the residence of Benazir Bhutto and showed her orders of her house arrest. “Strong contingents of police have laid a siege to Bhutto’s house and no one is being allowed to go in or come out,” Makhdoom Amin Faheem, a senior leader of the ex-premier’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), said. Riot police backed by security personnel called in from other towns blocked all roads leading out of Islamabad, as PPP activists started assembling on the outskirts of Liaqat Bagh to welcome their leader, who returned from eight years of self-imposed exile on Oct 18. Several workers of PPP have been also arrested, Fahim told.
Amin Fahim also said that government has adopted double standards Punjab CM Pervez Elahi is allowed to hold rallies almost every day while we are being denied of our civil rights to protest. MHe said that PPP is in contact with MMA and would contact all other political parties to join hands with PPP in struggle for democracy.
State Minister for Information Tariq Azim told that Benazir Bhutto has not been formally placed under house arrest and she has been told to stay inside her home for her own safety.
He said no political party or leader would be allowed to take out any rally. He said that the law is the same for everyone and any one who violates the law would be dealt with in accordance to the law. While Interior Secretary Kamal Shah told that Benazir Bhutto has been confined to her house due to security concerns as there are reports that a suicide bombing could take place at Liaqat Bagh.

US voices concern

CRAWFORD—The United States urged Pakistan to end the house arrest of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto Friday as Defense Secretary Robert Gates voiced concern that the political turmoil there will undermine the Pakistani army’s fight against terrorism.
“We remain concerned about the continued state of emergency and curtailment of basic freedoms, and urge Pakistani authorities to quickly return to constitutional order and democratic norms,” Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council said in a statement.—Agencies