Pakistan's former premier Benazir Bhutto was to be put under house arrest Friday, hours before she was due to lead a rally against a state of emergency, government officials said.
Pakistan locked former premier Benazir Bhutto under house arrest, blocking her from a planned rally to protest President Pervez Musharraf's imposition of a state of emergency.
President Gen. Pervez Musharraf yielded to pressure from the United States on Thursday and said Pakistan will hold elections by mid-February. But he showed no sign of ending a political crack down, sending police to surround the home of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and detaining thousands ahead of a major protest.
The United States welcomed Thursday the fact that President Pervez Musharraf has "clarified" the date for Pakistan's elections, but kept up the pressure for him to lift emergency rule.
Two Democratic presidential candidates with extensive foreign policy experience warned Thursday that the current unrest in Pakistan is reminiscent of events that led up to the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-81.
President Gen. Pervez Musharraf announced Thursday that Pakistan would hold parliamentary elections by mid-February, a move praised by the United States, which has been pressuring its ally to restore democracy.
Pentagon officials say Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is secure in military hands, but some U.S. lawmakers and experts warn that nuclear material and designs could leak out if political instability persists.
Pakistan placed former premier Benazir Bhutto under house arrest on Friday, blocking her from a planned rally to protest President Pervez Musharraf's imposition of a state of emergency.
The Bush White House on Thursday applauded Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's decision to proceed with elections in Pakistan, which has been convulsing from his imposition of emergency rule last week.
Younis Khan hit a blazing century as Pakistan scripted an unlikely four-wicket win against India in the second one-day international here on Thursday.