Pakistani police arrested 125 opposition activists today in front of the Supreme Court as it resumed hearing petitions against President Pervez Musharraf's plans for re-election.
Gen Musharraf, who is also army chief, plans to seek another term in office from an electoral college on October 6th despite opposition from an alliance of political parties demanding an end to military rule.
Police in Islamabad and the nearby city of Rawalpindi instigated a crackdown at the weekend on an opposition alliance led by the party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a bid to thwart protests against Gen Musharraf's plan.
Mr Sharif, whom Gen Musharraf ousted in 1999, was deported to Saudi Arabia hours after flying home on September 10th. He had hoped to campaign against the president.
Pakistan faces months of tension as Gen Musharraf tries to cement his rule over a country seen as vital to international efforts to stabilise Afghanistan, and which is often at odds with nuclear-armed neighbour India.