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700 Bhutto Supporters Arrested

Bhutto claims 'thousands' of activists have been arrested

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 8, 2007 5:45 AM CST

(Newser) – More than 700 supporters of opposition leader Benazar Bhutto were arrested overnight, her party claims, in anticipation of a mass rally planned for tomorrow in Rawalpindi to protest emergency rule in Pakistan. In Karachi, five people arrested earlier were charged with treason for making speeches critical of the government; if convicted they would face a death sentence.

Until yesterday anti-government protests have been led by lawyers, enraged by the suspension of the constitution and the house arrest of the country's chief justice. But Bhutto's vow to hold a rally tomorrow and a mass  "long march" next week has emboldened her supporters: 400 of them faced down tear gas at a protest outside the parliament buildings yesterday.

Unidentified Pakistani protesters flash victory signs from a police lock-up facilit, after they were arrested for protesting against Pakistan's military ruler President Gen. Pervez Musharraf in Multan, Pakistan, on Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007.  Police swung batons and fired tear gas at supporters of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto near Pakistan's...
Unidentified Pakistani protesters flash victory signs from a police lock-up facilit, after they were arrested for protesting against Pakistan's military ruler President Gen. Pervez Musharraf in Multan,...   (Associated Press)
Lawyers hold a protest rally against President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007, in Islamabad, Pakistan. U.S. President Bush urged Pakistan's military leader to hold parliamentary elections and shed his army uniform, while the opposition claimed that hundreds of its supporters were detained overnight...
Lawyers hold a protest rally against President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007, in Islamabad, Pakistan. U.S. President Bush urged Pakistan's military leader...   (Associated Press)
Lawyers hold a protest rally against President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007 in Peshawar, Pakistan. U.S. President George W. Bush telephoned Musharraf to tell him to hold parliamentary elections and shed his army uniform, while the opposition claimed hundreds of its supporters were...
Lawyers hold a protest rally against President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007 in Peshawar, Pakistan. U.S. President George W. Bush telephoned Musharraf to...   (Associated Press)
Lawyers shout slogans at a protest rally against President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007 in Islamabad, Pakistan. U.S. President Bush urged Pakistan's military leader to hold parliamentary elections and shed his army uniform, while the opposition claimed that hundreds of its supporters were...
Lawyers shout slogans at a protest rally against President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007 in Islamabad, Pakistan. U.S. President Bush urged Pakistan's military...   (Associated Press)
Lawyers hold a protest rally against President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007 in Islamabad, Pakistan. U.S. President Bush urged Pakistan's military leader to hold parliamentary elections and shed his army uniform, while the opposition claimed that hundreds of its supporters were detained overnight...
Lawyers hold a protest rally against President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007 in Islamabad, Pakistan. U.S. President Bush urged Pakistan's military leader...   (Associated Press)
Lawyers hold a protest rally against President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007 in Peshawar, Pakistan. U.S. President George W. Bush telephoned Musharraf to tell him to hold parliamentary elections and shed his army uniform, while the opposition claimed hundreds of its supporters were...
Lawyers hold a protest rally against President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007 in Peshawar, Pakistan. U.S. President George W. Bush telephoned Musharraf to...   (Associated Press)
Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto presides party's central executive meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan on Thursday, Nov 8, 2007. Police arrested at least 800 supporters of Bhutto ahead of a rally she is planning in Rawalpindi in defiance of a government ban. (AP Photo/B.K.Bangash)
Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto presides party's central executive meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan on Thursday, Nov 8, 2007. Police arrested at least 800 supporters of Bhutto ahead of a...   (Associated Press)
Supporters of Pakistan's former prime minister Benazir Bhutto wait for glimpse of their leader during her press conference  in Islamabad, Pakistan on Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007. Police swung batons and fired tear gas at supporters of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto near Pakistan's Parliament Wednesday, deepening a political crisis triggered...
Supporters of Pakistan's former prime minister Benazir Bhutto wait for glimpse of their leader during her press conference in Islamabad, Pakistan on Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007. Police swung batons and fired...   (Associated Press)
Police officers stopping supporters of Benazir Bhutto from reaching the Supreme court to protest against Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf who imposed the emergency, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007. Police swung batons and fired tear gas at supporters of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto near Pakistan's Parliament...
Police officers stopping supporters of Benazir Bhutto from reaching the Supreme court to protest against Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf who imposed the emergency, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on...   (Associated Press)
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