This is a good move by the government. No one should be allowed to derail the democratic election process.
Elections, elections, elections, we want elections.
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0802120167191145.htm
Pakistan detains top opposition leaders
Authorities in Pakistan on Tuesday detained top opposition leaders who are campaigning for election boycott, officials said.
Parliamentary elections are set for February 18.
The leaders of All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) will be put under house arrest for 30 days, according to a government order.
The detention orders were issued for the APDM convener Mehmood Khan Achakzai and 30 other leaders including Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Imran Khan.
The APDM leaders have addressed big public rallies over the past few weeks, urging the people to boycott elections.
They say that elections under President Musharraf will not be free and transparent.
The APDM leaders were planning a rally in Rawalpindi in the next few days and it is not clear if the government will allow the rally.
Spokesman: The Interior Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that nobody would be allowed to disrupt the polling process or create any law and order situation.
“Any one trying to hinder the process shall be dealt with sternly,” Javed Iqbal Cheema said.
“No one would be allowed to display or carry weapons on the polling day and violators would be arrested and punished.” He said the provincial governments have drawn up plans for the security of 64,175 polling stations in keeping with their sensitivity.
In all, 19,380 polling stations have been declared sensitive.
The Interior Ministry spokesman said over one thousand international observers and media men and about twenty thousand local observers would monitor the elections.
The government has made elaborate arrangements to facilitate them in discharge of their duties.
They will be free to visit any place of their choice and the government would provide necessary security.
An Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by additional secretary interior has been constituted to facilitate international observers and media personnel.
Special immigration counters have been established at Islamabad and airports of four provincial capitals to facilitate arriving observers and media-men.
Observers would visit the Election Commission in Islamabad or provincial capitals for briefing and accreditation while media would be briefed by information departments.
The Federal Government has placed paramilitary forces and other forces at the disposal of provinces and army has started mobilizing.