SOME of Pakistan's most distinguished judges, rights activists and opposition figures were among those arrested or put under house arrest.

CHIEF JUSTICE: Mr Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry.

Outspoken chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, a thorn in General Musharraf's side, was replaced and confined to his cordoned-off home in Islamabad. Nobody was allowed to approach his home.

Mr Chaudhry had defied the President's efforts to fire him in March.

Among the people arrested were:

CHAUDHRY'S SUPPORTER: Lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan.

Mr Aitzaz Ahsan, a lawyer who represented Mr Chaudhry.

PROTEST LEADER: Lawyer Munir Malik.

Mr Munir Malik, a senior lawyer who has led pro-democracy protests.

OPPOSITION FIGURE: Former cricket star Imran Khan.

Cricket star-turned-politician Imran Khan, a leading opposition figure who had earlier escaped house arrest.

MUSLIM LEAGUE CHIEF: Mr Javed Hashmi.

Mr Javed Hashmi, the acting head of the Pakistan Muslim League of exiled premier Nawaz Sharif. Mr Hashmi was freed from jail on High Court orders earlier this year.

RIGHTS EXPERT: Ms Asma Jehangir.

Ms Asma Jehangir, a UN-appointed expert on religious freedom and chairman of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

RIGHTS COMMISSION CHIEF: Mr I. A. Rehman.

Mr I.A. Rehman, director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

MUSHARRAF CRITIC: Mr Hamid Gul.

Mr Hamid Gul, former chief of the main intelligence agency and a staunch critic of Gen Musharraf.