Pakistan’s looming presidential elections were thrown into chaos by a legal ruling today.

Hundreds of opponents of Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf jailed since the weekend were ordered to be released today by the country’s chief justice.

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto will return to Pakistan on October 18 to press for the restoration of democracy, regardless of the outcome of talks with its US-allied military president, her party said today.

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto can return to Pakistan from exile, but will have to face corruption cases against her, the government said, as her party prepared to announce her arrival date today.

Lawyers for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif filed a petition in Pakistan’s Supreme Court today challenging his deportation to Saudi Arabia, setting up another confrontation between the judiciary and Pakistan’s military ruler as he battles to hold onto power.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf today decided against declaring a state of emergency in Pakistan and will press ahead with plans to hold free and fair elections, a government minister said.

A state of emergency could be declared in Pakistan because of “external and internal threats” and deteriorating law and order in the volatile north-west near the Afghan border, the government said today.

Pakistan criticised US presidential candidate Barack Obama today for saying that, if elected, he might order unilateral military strikes against terrorists hiding in the Islamic country.

Pakistani commandos stormed Islamabad’s Red Mosque compound today, sparking a fierce fight with militants accused of holding about 150 hostages inside.

THE top-ranking cleric of a radical mosque besieged by government forces in Pakistan’s capital rejected calls for an unconditional surrender yesterday, saying he and his die-hard followers were ready for martyrdom.

The siege of a radical mosque in Pakistan’s capital entered its third day today after troops rocked the complex with gunfire and explosions and Islamic militants holed up inside rejected government calls to surrender.

Several explosions were heard near a radical mosque besieged by security forces in the Pakistani capital Islamabad this morning.

GUNFIRE and explosions rocked a besieged radical mosque in Pakistan’s capital last night, as Islamic militants holed up in the complex ignored a call from their captured leader to surrender.

India will give Islamabad evidence that Pakistan’s spy agency planned the deadly July 11 Mumbai train bombings, India’s top diplomat said today.

INDIA will give Islamabad evidence that Pakistan’s spy agency planned the Mumbai train bombings in July which killed more than 200 people, India’s foreign secretary said yesterday.