A Bradford member of the Pakistan People's Party travelling with Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan has been detained by security forces under martial law.

Arashad Barki, 49, from Grove House Road, Bradford was visiting the country as part of a PPP delegation led by the former Prime Minister. The group were in the country to protest at the action of the Musharraf regime which imposed emergency law last week.

Mr Barki was arrested yesterday en route to an anti-government demonstration in Rawalpindi. When the convoy reached Dina near Mirpur in the Kashmir region they were prevented from continuing and incarcerated in Dina Jail.

Mr Barki's family in Bradford is anxiously waiting for news. Zeshan Barki said: "My father said on his arrest he will carry on fighting against this undemocratic regime, and would fight on for the restoration of democracy."

Mr Barki is one of several hundreds of opposition figures arrested in recent days. Earlier this week Imran Khan, Chancellor of Bradford University escaped from house arrest. He is in hiding, but continues to issue statements via YouTube.

Yesterday Benazir Bhutto was issued with a 30-day detention order and was placed under house arrest at her home in Islamabad, but the order has since been lifted.

The situation in Pakistan is becoming increasingly volatile and fears are growing that a full civil war may ensue.

Last month a suicide bomber targeted Miss Bhutto's convoy killing over 140 people. Since the imposition of martial law there have been numerous protests, most notably by a number of lawyers on Monday. Running battles have been fought with police and riot officers have beaten demonstrators on several occasions.

Several thousand people were expected to attend the PPP demonstration yesterday until prevented from doing so.

At the heart of the issue lies the call for free and independent elections in Pakistan. General Musharraf has pledged an election will be held next year but opposition parties are sceptical.

Mr Mian Shahid, advisor to the Alliance for the Restoration of the Constitution in the PPP told the Telegraph & Argus: "Around 5,000 members, parliamentarians and party workers have been arrested in Pakistan now, including Benazir Bhutto. Members of the PPP are being held in terrible conditions and many have been beaten. Many of them are being held in bathrooms and toilets because there is not enough space in the jails.

"Now is the time for Western Leaders to show their condemnation of the Musharraf regime. They have a responsibility to act and we will be holding a demonstration at the UK parliament next week to exert pressure on Mr Brown."