Bhutto attacks Musharraf for "mini-martial law"

By Ovais Subhani

KARACHI (Reuters) - Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto described the imposition of emergency rule by President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday as "mini-martial law" and vowed that her party would protest against it.

"This is a mini-martial law," Bhutto said in a news conference in the southern city of Karachi a little over an hour after arriving back from Dubai, where she had been visiting her family. "We condemn this martial law. We will protest it."

Musharraf earlier imposed emergency rule, deploying paramilitary troops and sacking a top judge in a bid to reassert his flagging authority against challenges from Islamist militants, hostile judges, and political rivals.

Bhutto had been negotiating with Musharraf over Pakistan's transition to civilian-led democracy.

She returned from self-imposed exile last month without fear of prosecution in old corruption cases thanks to an amnesty granted by Musharraf.

The suicide attack that greeted Bhutto in Karachi, killing 139 supporters and members of her security team, shocked the country and the world.

There has been speculation that the pair could share power after elections that had been expected in January, if Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party performed well in the polls and Musharraf fulfilled a promise to quit as army chief.

Bhutto told the BBC that Musharraf would have to restore the constitution for her to work with him.