The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Islamabad

In order to prevent the Opposition parties from staging protest rallies against President Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistan Police has arrested 35 leaders of the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) on the charges of disrupting public order.

This step came in the wake of calls made by opposition parties that they would do their best to stop Musharraf geting himself re-elected as the President

The move was in response to the threat to escalate the confrontation with the government and disrupt the election, confirmed an intelligence official.

"Keeping in view the sensitive security environment and for the maintenance of tranquillity and security of the public, certain leaders encouraging unregulated and unlawful public assembly have been detained under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order," a Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad Capital territory press release said.

Those who are arrested include MMA leader Hafiz Hussain, Muhammad Aslam and Javed Hashmi.

Hafiz Hussain said that the police had detained him at his residence. He said it was unclear whether he would be confined there or taken away.

"This government will do anything to clear the way for the presidential election. They are using the state machinery to curb the opposition," The News quoted Hussain, as saying. Aslam was transferred to Adiyala Jail for 30 days under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (3-MPO).

According to sources, Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and MMA president Qazi Hussain Ahmad escaped the crackdown and were untraceable.

Sharif's party condemned the detentions, which follow a series of rallies on Friday against Musharraf's re-election in several cities across Pakistan, including one at the Supreme Court in Islamabad.

"The police raided their homes, whisked them away and took them to an unknown place," said Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for Sharif's party.

"This is a blatant violation of their fundamental rights."