Bhutto, who was released from house arrest late on Friday night under the US pressure, joined the protest in front of office of the Aaj TV, one of the news channels blacked out under the emergency regulations.
She also addressed the media outside the Judges Colony, where several deposed judges of the Supreme Court are being held under house arrest after they refused to endorse Musharraf actions.

Benazir Bhutto was on Saturday prevented from meeting sacked Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who is currently under house arrest here. “It is no crime to see him. He is still the real chief justice of Pakistan,” she said over a megaphone to security personnel guarding the house of Chaudhry.

Solidarity

Expressing solidarity with the journalists protesting against curbs imposed on the print and electronic media under the emergency rule, she said: “Pakistan needs an independent judiciary and media. We will strengthen democratic forces to save Pakistan. Everyone should join this movement against emergency and to restore democracy.” The policemen did not allow her to go inside the house of Chaudhry.

Bhutto led the journalists in shouting slogans like “We want freedom” and called on trade unions and other activists to join the movement against the emergency.

Condemning the suspension of the Constitution and fundamental rights like the freedom of the press, Bhutto said she was determined to go ahead with her party’s planned “long march” from Lahore to Islamabad to pressure Musharraf to quit as army chief and hold elections as scheduled in mid-January.

“This is not the long march of the PPP. This is the long march for the people, for the people’s freedom. I am with you in the struggle for freedom,” Bhutto said in a brief address to the journalists with a megaphone.

Under new regulations issued by Musharraf, journalists face stiff fines and prison terms for publishing statements of militants or anything that defames or ridicules the government.

Police yesterday arrested hundreds of PPP workers and detained Bhutto within her home till late in the evening to thwart her rally in Rawalpindi.

Meanwhile, journalists and lawyers staged protests in several cities and towns in Pakistan. In Islamabad, they gathered for a march to the office of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority.

Yesterday, the scribes had flown black flags over their offices and worn black ribbons while observing a “black day”. They are also boycotting official functions.

A group of about 100 lawyers staged a protest at district court here and condemned the arrest and detention of members of the legal fraternity.

Nearly 100 journalists joined a protest at the Press Club in Lahore, which was surrounded by a large number of policemen. The scribes, who were joined by rights activists, shouted slogans against the government and emergency.

They said they would go on hunger strike for the next three days to protest the curbs on the media. If these are not withdrawn, the journalists said they would organise street protests. Lawyers also staged a separate protest in Lahore.

In Peshawar, four PPP leaders were arrested outside the Press Club shortly after addressing a press conference. Journalists earlier prevented police from arresting them inside the club.