Ousted judge rallies protest against Musharraf

Islamabad: Pakistan's opposition grappled for a united response yesterday to President Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule, leaving only lawyers to protest for a second day and bear the brunt of a police crackdown.

Ousted chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, though being held incommunicado at his residence, managed to get out a message by mobile phone to the lawyers' movement that has been leading the public protests.

"The constitution has been ripped to shreds," Chaudhry said, before cellphone coverage was cut in parts of Islamabad.

"The lawyers should convey my message to the people to rise up and restore the constitution. This is a time for sacrifices. I am under arrest now, but soon I will also join you in your struggle," said the judge.

While hundreds of lawyers were detained during clashes with police the previous day, yesterday's protests were small and tamer.

Bhutto meets politicians

Pakistan's Cabinet yesterday discussed possibly delaying crucial parliamentary elections by up to three months after President General Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency, a minister said.

"The issue of holding elections was discussed at length, and after attending the Cabinet meeting I feel that the elections may be delayed by two months," the minister said on condition of anonymity.

Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto flew to Islamabad to consult other opposition leaders but said she would not meet let alone negotiate with the military president on forming a caretaker government.

"If I met him face to face it might demoralise everybody else," Bhutto told Britain's Sky Television.