Lawyers Press Musharraf With Protests

Chaudhry, who was appointed by Musharraf, has won praise in legal circles for his willingness to stand up to the government. Late last year, for instance, he pressed for information about individuals who allegedly disappeared at the hands of the nation's intelligence services.

The elections pose a major test for Musharraf later this year, and Chaudhry was expected to rule on issues that could complicate the president's bid for another term. Among the open questions is whether Musharraf will face a vote in the current parliament to endorse him for another term as head of state, or in a new parliament that might view him less favorably. The current parliament came to power in 2002 elections that were marked by irregularities. Also in doubt is whether Musharraf will have to resign his post as head of the army, a critical job in Pakistan.

"All his power comes from his uniform. None of it comes from the constitution," said Zafar Ali Shah, a leading opposition figure.

Political opponents have been quick to take the lawyers' side in the dispute over Chaudhry. Since Musharraf came to power, the opposition has been badly fractured. Vigorous economic growth during his tenure, plus the failure of past democratic governments, has made it difficult for opponents to mount a strong challenge. But in recent weeks, right- and left-wing groups have stood shoulder to shoulder in demonstrations.

They have not received much support from abroad, however. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack has defended the president, saying Tuesday that "President Musharraf has made a commitment to change Pakistan, and we think that that is a positive thing."

One Western diplomat said that Musharraf had made "a blunder" but that there was still time to recover. "This could go badly, but it could also all go away in a couple of days," said the diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly on the issue. "What will be telling is if we start seeing average citizens -- not lawyers and not party members -- coming out on the streets. And if we see protests going beyond the major urban centers."

The general public's failure to join the demonstrations so far may be the result of the nature of the controversy. It hinges on complex constitutional questions in a country with illiteracy rates around 50 percent.

In Lahore, long the intellectual and cultural capital of the country, thousands of lawyers have taken to the city's frenetic streets to protest. On Saturday, they were preparing to lead a demonstration from the century-old court buildings when, they said, the police preemptively assaulted them with tear gas, rocks and baton charges. Days later, several admitted to throwing rocks back -- but they said there was no doubt the police initiated the fracas.

"We were not armed. Our weapons were words -- that's all," said Khosa, 39, whose hand was wrapped in bandages after he was struck by a baton while defending his father during an earlier protest last week. His father, also a lawyer, needed six stitches to close a wound on his forehead after he was hit.

In all, 100 lawyers were injured Saturday in Lahore, and at least 40 offices were ransacked. The city's police chief declined to comment.

At a boisterous meeting Monday, hundreds of lawyers listened to speech after speech condemning the president, and responded by chanting, "Go Musharraf, go!"

Before departing, the lawyers were told to prepare for the protest on Wednesday.

"As lawyers, we are peaceful," said one speaker, Azam Nazir Tarar. "But we are not afraid of bullets."