Pak opposition leaders detained

Top opposition leaders in Pakistan, who had indicated launching protests to disrupt President Pervez Musharrafs bid for re-election, have been detained.

Islamabad, Sept 23 : Top opposition leaders in Pakistan, who had indicated launching protests to disrupt President Pervez Musharraf's bid for re-election, have been detained.

Police said the opposition leaders had been taken into temporary custody for the maintenance of public order.Hundreds of activists belonging to the umbrella group All Parties Democratic Movement are also being held, the BBC reported.

They are from the PML-N party of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and hardline Islamists of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam.

It is not known how many senior leaders have been held so far- estimates vary from four to 35.

Musharraf will seek re-election on October 6 by the federal and provincial assemblies.

The presidential election has been engulfed in controversy even before the poll date was announced, as the Election Commission has made amendments in the Presidential Election Rules 1988 through a notification so that Article 63 of the Constitution no longer applies to the President.

Article 63 lays down various conditions under which a person can be disqualified from being a Member of Parliament.

ANI