Bhutto freed from house arrest, rejects new Pak Govt

“This caretaker Government is an extension of the PML-Q and is not acceptable,” she told reporters, referring to Musharraf’s ruling party. “We will not hold talks with dictators. Our agenda is the agenda of democracy.”

The oath-taking ceremony came as a senior US official headed for Islamabad to press for an end to the state of emergency, which the Opposition says will make the polls due by early January an unfair sham.

Military ruler Musharraf hailed the previous Government for stabilising Pakistan as he swore in the interim set-up, led by caretaker premier and close ally Mohammedmian Soomro.

“Today we are creating history because I think never has Pakistan seen such a smooth transition of Government,” Musharraf said at the ceremony.

Parliament dissolved at midnight on Thursday after completing a five-year term for the first time in the nuclear-armed nation’s turbulent history.

“I take pride in the fact that, being a man in uniform, I introduced the essence of democracy,” he added.

Musharraf has promised legislative elections by January 9, but Opposition leaders are considering a boycott and there is growing international anger at his refusal to end the state of Emergency he imposed on November 3.

Hours earlier authorities withdrew a seven-day detention order on Bhutto, who has been holed up behind barbed wire at an aide’s house in Lahore since Tuesday.

“The detention order has been withdrawn but normal police security will stay with her,” said Khusro Pervaiz, home secretary of Punjab province. A leading member of Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party said security forces were still around the house.

State media said Asma Jahangir, chairperson of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and a special UN rights rapporteur, had also been freed from house arrest.

The United States has led international calls for Musharraf to restore the Constitution, step down as head of the powerful army, free thousands of people detained under emergency laws and ensure free and fair elections.

John Negroponte, number two to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, arrived in Pakistan on Friday to press US concerns. He is expected to meet Musharraf, but officials said he had no plans to meet Bhutto.

Washington has been signalling its impatience with Musharraf over Emergency rule, which he said was necessary to tackle Islamic militancy and a meddling judiciary.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates even questioned his future effectiveness as a US ally in the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Musharraf’s “ability to continue to be a partner in the war on terror very much depends on how events unfold over the next few weeks in Pakistan,” Gates said.

Bhutto has also been ratcheting up the pressure, telephoning key political figures here in a bid to form a united opposition front.