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Lahore: Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto urged all Pakistanis to join a protest against President Pervez Musharraf's emergency rule and vowed it would go ahead even if police try to block her.
Bhutto plans to lead a 3-4 day long rally from Lahore to Islamabad on Tuesday to demand that Musharraf quits as army chief, ends emergency rule, reinstates the constitution and frees thousands of detained lawyers and opponents.
Speaking during a visit to the tomb of renowned 19th century poet Mohammad Iqba on Monday, Bhutto said, "I know it is dangerous".
She added, "I don't want to take a dangerous path, but I ask myself, what is the alternative and how can we save our country? We appeal to all people, including from other parties and minorities, women and children, to take part in this long march."
Police have warned Bhutto could face a suicide assassination bid, like the one at a rally last month to welcome her back from eight years in self-imposed exile, which killed 139 people.
They initially said they would block the convoy, just as they stifled a protest rally in the city of Rawalpindi on Friday, when Bhutto was held under house arrest for most of the day.
Musharraf prompted mass criticism when he imposed emergency rule on November 3. He said on Sunday a general election would be held by January 9 but declined to say when the emergency would be lifted and the constitution restored.
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