Islamabad - The Pakistani government has put its troops on standby ahead of a planned anti-government rally in Islamabad by opposition groups, an army spokesman said Saturday.

Major General Athar Abbas said the military had been formally asked to keep the troops ready. "These can be deployed in sensitive areas of some districts if the situation gets out of control," he added.

An alliance of opposition parties and lawyers Thursday launched a cross-country march on Islamabad, where they planned to start a sit- in on Monday until their demand for independent judiciary is met. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the rally.

President Asif Ali Zardari has tried to suppress the protests which threaten political instability in the nuclear-armed country, with arrests of more than 1000 activists.

But the demonstrators continue to defy the strict measures and held small rallies in various cities on Saturday. (dpa)