Credible intelligence reports showed that terrorist groups and other extremist elements are out to target Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto and there is real threat to her life, said a spokesman of the Interior Ministry on Tuesday.
Spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema told a weekly briefing here that the government was taking exceptional security measures to ward off the threat and ensure her safety.
He said that the house arrest on Bhutto will stay for at least seven days, adding that overall 3,000 men were arrested in view of the law and order situation in Pakistan since the imposition of emergency on Nov. 3.
Early on Tuesday, police officials reached the Khosa House with detention orders of Bhutto who would be confined for seven days at the Khosa House, to prevent her from leading a long march of over 300 km from the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore to the capital of Islamabad.
Bhutto was staying at PPP leader Latif Khosa's residence in Lahore ahead of the planned long march to protest against proclamation of emergency in the country, suspension of constitution, detention of judges and arrests of lawyers and political workers.
Police sources were quoted as saying that the provincial government of Punjab had issued orders that the PPP workers should be stopped from the rally "at any cost".
Meanwhile, speaking by telephone to a group of reporters in Lahore, Bhutto said that Musharraf must quit as president.
She also ruled out possibility to serve under Musharraf in a future government.
"It seems unlikely that the People's Party will participate in the upcoming elections," she said.
Bhutto indicated that she would now build an alliance with other opposition leaders, including former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to restore democracy.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article