Pakistan mulls ban on Bhutto rally

LAHORE: Pakistani authorities could ban a protest march planned by former premier Benazir Bhutto against the country's state of emergency, officials said on Monday.

Bhutto flew to the eastern city of Lahore to galvanise support for her plans to lead supporters on Tuesday to the capital Islamabad, some 275 kilometers (170 miles) away.

"Rallies are not permitted because of the current law ad order situation," Raja Bashart, the law minister of Punjab province, said.

Asked if the march would be allowed to go ahead, Basharat said, "A meeting is taking place later (today) and a decision will be taken in that meeting."

Senior police officials said it was unlikely the march would be allowed to take place.

Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party warned of violence if the march through the country's political heartland was stopped.

"We will go ahead with the long march," said provincial party spokesman Farzna Raja. "If they stop us, there will be fighting in the streets of Lahore and protests in the streets of Punjab."

Bhutto said on Sunday that elections promised by President Pervez Musharraf by early January would be meaningless if held under emergency laws.

Musharraf imposed a state of emergency on November 3, citing a wave of Islamic militant violence and interference by the judiciary in the workings of government.