Pakistan bars planned protest by Bhutt

By MATTHEW PENNINGTON, Associated Press Writer

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto will not be allowed to hold a protest procession across Pakistan because it will violate a ban on political rallies under the state of emergency, a government spokesman said Monday.

Bhutto and other opposition members have threatened to boycott upcoming parliametnary elections unless the restrictions imposed by President Gen. Pervez Musharraf come to and end and he resigns as army chief. Musharraf said the vote would take place in mid-January, but critics say with the state of emergency, elections will be neither free nor fair.

Bhutto was due to depart from the eastern city of Lahore on Tuesday morning for the capital, Islamabad. The journey was expected to take about three days, and her party said thousands of supporters were expected to join her en route.

"All processions, rallies, political gatherings at present are outlawed," Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim told The Associated Press. "So if she breaks the law then obviously she will not be allowed to do it."

The caravan was meant to pressure Musharraf to end the state of emergency he imposed on Nov. 3 that suspended the constitution. READ MORE