Pakistan arrests protesting journalists

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Pakistani security forces arrested more than 100 journalists in Karachi Tuesday as the government announced the release of 3,400 other protesters.

Pakistan's most popular private TV news channel remains off the air since President Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule and suspended the constitution Nov. 3, and the journalists staged rallies calling for the restoration of independent media, the BBC reported.

Opposition parties have threatened to boycott elections scheduled for Jan. 8 if Musharraf doesn't release thousands of anti-government protesters.

Tuesday, the government announced 3,400 had been released, and said another 2,000 will be freed soon. An official told the BBC anyone facing criminal charges, including some political opponents, will not be released until they have faced trial.

Musharraf has come under increasing international pressure to end the emergency rule and allow the political process to progress democratically, the report said.