Olympic torch relay starts amid heavy security in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistani leg of the Olympic global torch relay started on Wednesday, guarded by thousands of troops and police to ward off any militant threat or anti-China protest.
The ceremony took place behind closed doors at Jinnah sports stadium in Islamabad after organisers slashed the planned route through the capital at the last minute, citing security concerns.
The flame was brought on a traditional horse-driven chariot escorted by mounted bodyguards of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. The army band played to herald the arrival of the torch.
The lantern carrying the flame did a round of the stadium and was shown to the crowd before it was presented to Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani
Both Musharraf and Gilani held the torch together as the authorities released balloons to the popular tunes.
The flame was handed to Pakistani field hockey hero Samiullah, the first of around 60 runners to begin the event, watched by several thousand hand-picked guests.
The heavy security in Islamabad comes as Pakistan tries to protect China, its closest ally, from further embarrassment at the hands of pro-Tibet and human rights demonstrators.
The flame will travel from Pakistan to India later Wednesday for one of the most sensitive stretches of its global voyage. India is home to more than 100,000 Tibetan refugees, many of them organised and media savvy.
Former squash star Jahangir Khan is set to light the cauldron at the end of the relay, Pakistani sources said.
The original plan was to parade the torch from the white marble presidency building and along Islamabad’s leafy main boulevard, but the entire event will now be held behind closed doors at the arena.