Reply #17: Bhutto under house detention

[tekisui]

Source: The Seattle Times

Pakistani police backed by armored vehicles detained opposition leader Benazir Bhutto at her Islamabad residence today and reportedly rounded up 5,000 of her supporters to block a planned mass protest against emergency rule, officials said.

Authorities were adamant that Bhutto's planned rally in nearby Rawalpindi would not go ahead. Mass gatherings are banned under emergency powers that President Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared last weekend. Mayor Javed Akhlas also said there was a "credible report" of six or seven suicide bombers in the city.

(snip)

Bhutto was not formally under house arrest, Information Minister Tariq Azim said. But "we will not allow any leader to carry out any rally," he said



Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004003483_pakistan09.html