Benazir placed under house arrest (Details updated at 1215 and first updated at 940)
ISLAMABAD: Former premier and PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has been put under house arrest Friday, hours before she was due to lead a rally against a state of emergency, government officials said. "She is being placed under house arrest," a senior government official said on condition of anonymity. Nearly 200 police sealed off Bhutto's house in Islamabad with barbed wire and a magistrate went inside, apparently with the arrest order, hours before she was due to lead the demonstration in neighbouring Rawalpindi. A senior leader of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, senator Anwar Baig, said outside her house: "This is illegal confinement. This is illegal detention of a democratic leader." "We tried to convince Benazir Bhutto to cancel the rally but she did not agree, and we had no choice but to implement these restrictions," a senior police official said. The government also deployed 6,000 police officers to stop the protest in Rawalpindi, completely cordoning off the planned venue in the garrison city with barbed wire and concrete blocks. "Under no circumstances will the rally be allowed. The law will take its course against anyone who defies it," Rawalpindi police chief Saud Aziz said.
Attempt to stop Dr. Shahid Masud leaving for Dubai (Updated at 1430)
ISLAMABAD: An attempt was made here at the airport to stop the host of the Geo News program ‘Meray Mutabiq’, Dr. Shahid Masud leaving for Dubai, but later on resistance, he was allowed to go. The report said that the airport administration here this afternoon tried snatching Dr. Shahid Masud’s passport, when he had arrived at the airport for departure to Dubai, while he resisting vehemently foiled their attempt to take away his passport. Later on, the airport administration allowed Dr, Shahid Masud to proceed to Dubai.
Police enter into Geo News office in Chaman (Updated at 1345)
CHAMAN: Police barred journalists to protest against ban imposed on media here on Friday whereas police officials have entered into the office of Geo News.According to reports, journalists in Chaman tried to carry out a protest march during which police did not allow them to go outside of the ChamanPress Club. Police officials also entered into the office of Geo News. Police have surrounded the Press Club and Geo News office due to which the people present there have been besieged.
Benazir Bhutto taken into safe custody: Sheikh Rashid (Updated at 1240)
ISLAMABAD: Federal Railways Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that Benazir Bhutto has been taken into safe custody in view of the terror threats in the People’s Party announced rally today.
Talking to Geo News, the federal minister said that such information were there that the terrorists have entered into Rawalpindi and, therefore, Benazir Bhutto has been taken into the safe custody in view of the security.
When quizzed, he said that in all 45 days would be allowed for electioneering. Besides, he said that following the Supreme Court verdict relating to the President, emergency would be lifted and the assemblies would be dissolved.
He further said that the process of the Government- People’s Party understanding was getting into the oblivion.
Damaged Bolan Gas pipeline repaired (Updated at 1210)
BOLAN: The Sui Southern Gas Co (SSGC) has repaired 18-inch diameter Bolan gas pipeline, which was damaged as a result of a blast.The teams SSGC managed to repair the damaged pipeline with in four, the SSGC sources said.Unknown persons had blown up the gas pipeline in district Bolan of Balochistan disrupting gas supply to Quetta and several other districts of the province.The blast damaged several feet portion of the gas line causing disruption of gas supply to Quetta, Mastung, Qalat, Pishin and Ziarat districts.
Benazir Bhutto not formally detained: Tariq Azeem (Updated at 1145)
ISLAMABAD: Federal State Minister for Information, Tariq Azeem has said that Benazir Bhutto has not been detained formally.US News Agency said that the Federal State Minister for Information, Tariq Azeem told that the government would not give permission for holding rally to any party or leader. He said that the law was equally applicable to all and any one violating would be processed under the law.
All Punjab-NWFP link roads closed by putting barriers (Updated at 1110)
RAWALPINDI: The police have barricaded and closed all the highways running in between the Punjab and NWFP for foiling the People’s Party workers attempt reaching Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi announced public meeting site.
Sources told that the police have erected barriers by putting containers on Peshawar- Islamabad G. T. Road, Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway, Swabi-Tarbela Road and Kohat-Rawalpindi Road, while heavy contingents of police, Punjab Constabulary and Rangers have been posted on these roads, which has suspended Peshawar- Islamabad traffics.
Barricades have been erected at several places within the Punjab also, while Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian’s Naushehra president, Liaquat Shabab, his six party workers and four lawyers have been put under arrest
.
5,000 supporters arrested, says Peoples Party (Updated at 1030)
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Peoples Party said Friday that authorities had arrested 5,000 of its supporters to avert a Rawalpindi rally.``It is a massive crackdown on our party,'' said Raja Javed Ashraf, a lawmaker for Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party.Officials offered no immediate public comment. But a security official, speaking anonymously because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said only 1,000 Bhutto supporters had been detained.
Former CJP, others deprived of retirement facilities (Updated at 930)
LAHORE: Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Chaudhry Muhammad Iftikhar and other judges of the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and High Courts, who did not take oath under the new PCO, will be deprived of retirement facilities, the government sources told Geo News Friday. All the judges who did not take oath under the new PCO ceased as judges and those who took the oath continue as the judges, the sources said.The judges of the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and High Courts who ceased as judges as a result of declaration of emergency and did not take oath under the PCO could not avail the retirement facilities.
Iqbal Day today (Updated at 0830)
LAHORE: The nation is celebrating the 130th birth anniversary of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal today (Friday) in a befitting manner. The government has announced the day as public holiday and all government offices and educational institutions will remain closed.Schools and colleges have arranged different programmes to highlight Allama Iqbal’s life with the objective to idealise him as a role model for national prosperity. Similarly, social, cultural and literary organisations have chalked out different programmes to pay tribute to the Shair-e-Mashriq (Poet of East), who had envisioned a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Indian sub-continent. A large number of people belonging to all walks of life will visit the Mazar to pay tributes to him.
Balochistan: Gas pipeline blown up in Bolan (Updated at 0500)
BOLAN: Unknown persons blew up 18-inch diameter gas pipeline in district Bolan of Balochistan disrupting gas supply to Quetta and several other districts of the province, a gas company official said. A railway track that was damaged in a blast in Sibi district of Balochistan has been repaired and the rail traffic restored. Gen. Manager of Sui Southern Gas Co. in Balochistan Mushtaq Ahmed said that 18-inch diameter gas pipeline was blown up near Kolpur in district Bolan. An explosion damaged several feet portion of the gas line causing disruption of gas supply to Quetta, Mastung, Qalat, Pishin and Ziarat districts. The teams have been sent to the place for repair of the damaged pipeline, he further said. Meanwhile, an explosion near railway track in Bhutta area of district Sibi damaged two and half feet portion of the track. After the incident Balochistan Express and Bolan Express were stopped at Jacobabad railway station. Railway staff repaired the track in one and half hour and restored rail traffic.
ISLAMABAD: Former premier and PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has been put under house arrest Friday, hours before she was due to lead a rally against a state of emergency, government officials said. "She is being placed under house arrest," a senior government official said on condition of anonymity. Nearly 200 police sealed off Bhutto's house in Islamabad with barbed wire and a magistrate went inside, apparently with the arrest order, hours before she was due to lead the demonstration in neighbouring Rawalpindi. A senior leader of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, senator Anwar Baig, said outside her house: "This is illegal confinement. This is illegal detention of a democratic leader." "We tried to convince Benazir Bhutto to cancel the rally but she did not agree, and we had no choice but to implement these restrictions," a senior police official said. The government also deployed 6,000 police officers to stop the protest in Rawalpindi, completely cordoning off the planned venue in the garrison city with barbed wire and concrete blocks. "Under no circumstances will the rally be allowed. The law will take its course against anyone who defies it," Rawalpindi police chief Saud Aziz said.
Attempt to stop Dr. Shahid Masud leaving for Dubai (Updated at 1430)
ISLAMABAD: An attempt was made here at the airport to stop the host of the Geo News program ‘Meray Mutabiq’, Dr. Shahid Masud leaving for Dubai, but later on resistance, he was allowed to go. The report said that the airport administration here this afternoon tried snatching Dr. Shahid Masud’s passport, when he had arrived at the airport for departure to Dubai, while he resisting vehemently foiled their attempt to take away his passport. Later on, the airport administration allowed Dr, Shahid Masud to proceed to Dubai.
Police enter into Geo News office in Chaman (Updated at 1345)
CHAMAN: Police barred journalists to protest against ban imposed on media here on Friday whereas police officials have entered into the office of Geo News.According to reports, journalists in Chaman tried to carry out a protest march during which police did not allow them to go outside of the ChamanPress Club. Police officials also entered into the office of Geo News. Police have surrounded the Press Club and Geo News office due to which the people present there have been besieged.
Benazir Bhutto taken into safe custody: Sheikh Rashid (Updated at 1240)
ISLAMABAD: Federal Railways Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that Benazir Bhutto has been taken into safe custody in view of the terror threats in the People’s Party announced rally today.
Talking to Geo News, the federal minister said that such information were there that the terrorists have entered into Rawalpindi and, therefore, Benazir Bhutto has been taken into the safe custody in view of the security.
When quizzed, he said that in all 45 days would be allowed for electioneering. Besides, he said that following the Supreme Court verdict relating to the President, emergency would be lifted and the assemblies would be dissolved.
He further said that the process of the Government- People’s Party understanding was getting into the oblivion.
Damaged Bolan Gas pipeline repaired (Updated at 1210)
BOLAN: The Sui Southern Gas Co (SSGC) has repaired 18-inch diameter Bolan gas pipeline, which was damaged as a result of a blast.The teams SSGC managed to repair the damaged pipeline with in four, the SSGC sources said.Unknown persons had blown up the gas pipeline in district Bolan of Balochistan disrupting gas supply to Quetta and several other districts of the province.The blast damaged several feet portion of the gas line causing disruption of gas supply to Quetta, Mastung, Qalat, Pishin and Ziarat districts.
Benazir Bhutto not formally detained: Tariq Azeem (Updated at 1145)
ISLAMABAD: Federal State Minister for Information, Tariq Azeem has said that Benazir Bhutto has not been detained formally.US News Agency said that the Federal State Minister for Information, Tariq Azeem told that the government would not give permission for holding rally to any party or leader. He said that the law was equally applicable to all and any one violating would be processed under the law.
All Punjab-NWFP link roads closed by putting barriers (Updated at 1110)
RAWALPINDI: The police have barricaded and closed all the highways running in between the Punjab and NWFP for foiling the People’s Party workers attempt reaching Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi announced public meeting site.
Sources told that the police have erected barriers by putting containers on Peshawar- Islamabad G. T. Road, Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway, Swabi-Tarbela Road and Kohat-Rawalpindi Road, while heavy contingents of police, Punjab Constabulary and Rangers have been posted on these roads, which has suspended Peshawar- Islamabad traffics.
Barricades have been erected at several places within the Punjab also, while Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian’s Naushehra president, Liaquat Shabab, his six party workers and four lawyers have been put under arrest
.
5,000 supporters arrested, says Peoples Party (Updated at 1030)
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Peoples Party said Friday that authorities had arrested 5,000 of its supporters to avert a Rawalpindi rally.``It is a massive crackdown on our party,'' said Raja Javed Ashraf, a lawmaker for Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party.Officials offered no immediate public comment. But a security official, speaking anonymously because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said only 1,000 Bhutto supporters had been detained.
Former CJP, others deprived of retirement facilities (Updated at 930)
LAHORE: Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Chaudhry Muhammad Iftikhar and other judges of the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and High Courts, who did not take oath under the new PCO, will be deprived of retirement facilities, the government sources told Geo News Friday. All the judges who did not take oath under the new PCO ceased as judges and those who took the oath continue as the judges, the sources said.The judges of the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and High Courts who ceased as judges as a result of declaration of emergency and did not take oath under the PCO could not avail the retirement facilities.
Iqbal Day today (Updated at 0830)
LAHORE: The nation is celebrating the 130th birth anniversary of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal today (Friday) in a befitting manner. The government has announced the day as public holiday and all government offices and educational institutions will remain closed.Schools and colleges have arranged different programmes to highlight Allama Iqbal’s life with the objective to idealise him as a role model for national prosperity. Similarly, social, cultural and literary organisations have chalked out different programmes to pay tribute to the Shair-e-Mashriq (Poet of East), who had envisioned a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Indian sub-continent. A large number of people belonging to all walks of life will visit the Mazar to pay tributes to him.
Balochistan: Gas pipeline blown up in Bolan (Updated at 0500)
BOLAN: Unknown persons blew up 18-inch diameter gas pipeline in district Bolan of Balochistan disrupting gas supply to Quetta and several other districts of the province, a gas company official said. A railway track that was damaged in a blast in Sibi district of Balochistan has been repaired and the rail traffic restored. Gen. Manager of Sui Southern Gas Co. in Balochistan Mushtaq Ahmed said that 18-inch diameter gas pipeline was blown up near Kolpur in district Bolan. An explosion damaged several feet portion of the gas line causing disruption of gas supply to Quetta, Mastung, Qalat, Pishin and Ziarat districts. The teams have been sent to the place for repair of the damaged pipeline, he further said. Meanwhile, an explosion near railway track in Bhutta area of district Sibi damaged two and half feet portion of the track. After the incident Balochistan Express and Bolan Express were stopped at Jacobabad railway station. Railway staff repaired the track in one and half hour and restored rail traffic.
