Public barred from Pakistan torch relay

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- The Olympic torch relay began its Pakistan leg under heavy guard and literally behind closed doors on Wednesday.

Security concerns sparked by the violence in earlier runs in Britain, France and the United States prompted Pakistani officials to close the relay to the public and hold it in Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad.

And instead of traversing city streets, the 65 torchbearers ran multiple times around the stadium before handing off the torch to the next runner.

The ceremony, which began around 4:30 p.m. local time (1130 GMT), was open to invited guests and the media only, and featured singers and a marching band. See the torch arrive in Pakistan. »

Dignitaries on hand included Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf and newly-elected Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Heavily armed security officers dressed in camouflage could be seen in the stadium. Watch highlights of the torch ceremony. »

After the relay was finished, torch-bearers waved to the cheering crowd.

"Crossing the finishing line here is like winning the gold medal," torch-bearer and Pakistani squash player Jahangir Khan said.

Former Pakistani cricket star Imran Khan -- an anti-Musharraf campaigner since his move into politics -- was not among those invited to the ceremony, but told CNN that Pakistanis understood the need for more security.

"I think people here are very pragmatic," said Khan. "People have realized that there is a problem here in Pakistan with security ever since Pakistan got involved with this war on terror.

"Pakistan has experienced some unprecedented acts of terrorism and suicide bombings since (the terror attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001). So the security is understandable."

Pakistan's torch relay run marks the first time this year that the event will be closed to the public.

In fact, it may be the first time the torch run has been closed to the public since 1984, said John MacAloon, a University of Chicago professor who is writing a book on the Olympics.

The torch is making its way around the world before it is used to light the flame at the summer Olympics in Beijing in August.

Earlier stops of the torch relay in London, Paris and San Francisco attracted tens of thousands of demonstrators, violent attacks on the torch and relay participants, and dozens of arrests. However, subsequent visits to Argentina, Tanzania and Oman were trouble-free.

Demonstrators were protesting the Chinese government's human rights record and its stance toward Tibet, and many said the country should not have been awarded the honor of hosting the Olympic games.

Pakistan has strong links with China, and Musharraf recently made a six-day state visit to China.

The relay will on Thursday move to New Delhi in India -- a country neighboring both Pakistan and China where the Dalai Lama lives in exile in Dharamsala, a hill station in the north, along with many other Tibetans.

From India, it goes to Bangkok in Thailand on April 19. E-mail to a friend

All About Pakistan • Olympic Games • China