Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto Under House Arrest In Islamabad

Pakistani authorities detained opposition leader Benazir Bhutto at her home on Friday to stop her from holding her first rally since President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule, a government minister said.

"She has been detained at home. This is temporary and is being done to stop her from going to the meeting," Railways Minister and close ally to Musharraf, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, told Reuters.

Pakistani police backed by armored vehicles detained opposition leader Benazir Bhutto at her Islamabad residence Friday and reportedly rounded up 5,000 of her supporters to block her mass protest against emergency rule.

Authorities were adamant the rally Bhutto planned in nearby Rawalpindi would not go ahead — under the government's emergency powers declared a week ago, mass gatherings are banned. Mayor Javed Akhlas also said there was a "credible report" of six or seven suicide bombers in the city.

"We condemn this government move. It shows that the government is scared of Benazir Bhutto's popularity and it does not want her to be among masses," said Sen. Babar Awan, Bhutto's lawyer.

There was confusion among her aides about whether she still planned to go to the venue in Rawalpindi, which had been sealed off by riot police backed by armored vehicles. The headquarters of Pakistan's army and President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's residence are also located in the city.

Nazir Dhoki, a spokesman for her Pakistan People's Party said the former prime minister still planned to leave on schedule for Rawalpindi, but Sen. Enver Baig said party leaders were meeting to discuss whether the rally would go ahead.

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