Anti-Musharraf activists to be freed

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.

Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry issued the edict as President Musharraf formally entered the campaign for a new five-year term.

Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim said the decision “will be fully implemented.”

The detentions have sparked sharp criticism, including from the US, President Musharraf’s biggest international ally. The government has defended them as necessary to maintain law and order.

Ameer ul-Azeem, a spokesman for the opposition Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (United Action Forum), called the order “good news” for the more than 600 leaders and workers that he said were arrested.

President Musharraf has seen his popularity and power erode since his botched effort to fire the independent-minded Mr Chaudhry earlier this year. Lawyers led mass protests for his reinstatement, claiming the general was illegally interfering in the judiciary.

Mushahid Hussain, secretary-general of the president’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q party, was confident Musharraf would win the election on October 6.

Makhdoom Amin Fahim, vice chairman of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party, also filed his nomination papers today.

President Musharraf has held months long talks with Ms Bhutto that could result in them sharing power after parliamentary elections due by January.

Meanwhile the Supreme Court, considering several legal challenges to President Musharraf’s candidacy, is expected to rule within days.