International   

Battle of nerves outside Zardari House

Lahore: Reporters who witnessed Pakistan People’s Party leader Benazir Bhutto’s attempts to leave Zardari House, her home in Islamabad, said hundreds of policemen had cordoned it off.

In a battle of nerves that lasted about five hours, Ms. Bhutto managed to cross the first barricade, but was forced to turn back when an armoured personnel carrier blocked her way.

Two dozen PPP parliamentarians who were present were detained by police and later released.

The government said it could not allow the rally because of security threats and for Ms. Bhutto’s own safety, citing intelligence reports about the presence of several suicide bombers in Rawalpindi. A suicide bombing in Rawalpindi late last month bolstered the government’s position.

But the PPP described the restrictions on Ms. Bhutto as “illegal” and said no warrants had been served on her.

“The government has not served any arrest warrants or any detention orders on her. So this is not a house arrest. We condemn this as illegal, unconstitutional and unwarranted. They have done this because they could not bear to see a PPP rally in Rawalpindi,” PPP leader Farhatullah Babar said.

Addressing reporters on the other side of the barricades, Ms. Bhutto said the government’s response to the planned rally showed that the regime was “paralysed.” The struggle for restoration of the Constitution will continue and the barricades erected in the path of the people will be swept aside with the power of the people,” she said.

Ms. Bhutto said Gen. Musharraf had reneged on his promises to her for the restoration of democracy. She said there would be no more talks with him until the Constitution was restored, Gen. Musharraf stepped down as Army chief and an election schedule announced.

She earlier described his promise to hold elections on or before February 15 as “too vague, too general” and “an attempt to break the momentum of the Opposition.”

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Appeal to bar associations around globe
Battle of nerves outside Zardari House
Imran’s cancer hospital sealed
Suu Kyi to ‘cooperate’ with junta
Blow for U.K. in BAE scandal
U.S. radar system for Sri Lanka
Minister escapes bid on life
Grandparents’ kid-rearing leave in Australia
Indian workers killed in bridge collapse
Indian workers dig their heels in

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu