PAKISTAN: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto calls for an election date to be set

Bhutto denounces use of force against lawyers and politicians, urges revival of constitution. Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on Monday (November 5) denounced use of force against lawyers and politicians, by Pakistan government and urged revival of constitution. Police baton-charged dozens of lawyers outside the High Court in the economic capital, Karachi, and used teargas and mass arrests against lawyers in the eastern city of Lahore after they ransacked the office of the Punjab chief justice who sided with the government. Several judges were being held incommunicado at their homes after they refused to back emergency rule. Among them was Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, who became a symbol of resistance to Musharraf's rule after defying pressure to quit in March. The Supreme Court subsequently reinstated him. The arrests came after a main Islamist opposition party, Jamaat-e-Islami, said authorities had detained 600-700 of its supporters in southern and central provinces overnight. Authorities had already arrested 400-500 political opponents and opposition lawyers as a "preventive" measure. "We condemn the arrests (of lawyers and politicians). We condemn the brutality and force that was used against peaceful processions, "Bhutto told a news conference at Bilawal House, her family home in Karachi. She demanded release of those arrested. The United States embassy in Islamabad said it was "gravely concerned" by the curbs placed on Pakistani media and detentions of lawyers, politicians and rights activists following the imposition of emergency rule. "The offices of Jang (Urdu language newspaper) and Aaj Television were raided whereas notices have been given to other newspapers, this is simply press censorship, "Bhutto said. General Musharraf cited spiralling militancy and hostile judges to justify the imposition of emergency rule on Saturday, and imposed reporting curbs on the media in a bid to stop outrage spilling onto the streets amid Pakistan's biggest crisis since he took power in a 1999 coup. He also suspended the constitution, prompting Washington to postpone defence cooperation talks. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice voiced disappointment with Musharraf in terms seldom heard before from U.S. officials more accustomed to praising the Pakistani leader's support in the battle against al Qaeda and the Taliban. Washington has given Islamabad around 10 billion U.S. dollars (4.79 billion pounds) over the last five years. The U.S. embassy in Islamabad called on the government to free detained lawyers, politicians and rights activists and to let broadcasters resume programming. "If General Musharaf wants to defuse the turmoil he should revive the constitution as soon as possible. He should assure people and give a particular date when the elections will be held and when the elections will conclude. And that he is quitting post of army chief," said Bhutto. Pakistan will hold a national election on schedule, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Monday, as Western allies sought reassurances that polls expected in January will go ahead despite the imposition of emergency rule. "Our thinking about the election is that it will be held according to schedule," Aziz told a news conference. Aziz did not specify whether he meant the polls would take place in January. Pakistan's attorney-general announced that the country's national assembly will be dissolved by Nov. 15, with an election to be held with 60 days. ENDS.

ITN Source | November 6, 2007

Tags:. .overnight. .disappointment. .meant. .amid. .qaeda