The provincial Punjab government of Pakistan lifted a house arrest order imposed on former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto early Friday, according to the Daily Times newspaper.

 

The authorities withdrew a seven-day detention order of Bhutto, also chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), who was detained at the residence of PPP leader Latif Khosa in Defence area of Lahore for last three days.

 

"The detention order has been withdrawn but normal police security will stay with her," officials were quoted as saying. The barricade around her place of confinement will be changed into her security cordon, police said.

 

"The house is no longer a sub-jail and the jail staff has been removed from the place," officials further said.

 

Meanwhile, Bhutto has started consultation with her party aides at the Khosa House after the end of her detention, sources said.

 

Separately, PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq said that Benazir and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had agreed to join forces against President General Pervez Musharraf.

 

Bhutto said on Thursday that it was difficult for her to work with Musharraf because he had taken the country "back towards military dictatorship".

 

Bhutto made the comments shortly after a visit by US Consul General Bryan Hunt at the surrounded residence of Senator Latif Khosa.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 16, 2007)