Pakistani opposition leaders cranked up pressure on President Pervez Musharraf yesterday, after doubts were cast over his re-election plans by the Supreme Court's reinstatement of a judge seen as a symbol of resistance.

The head of the opposition Islamist alliance resigned from the National Assembly in protest against "one man rule", marking a decisive break in the so-called military-mullah alliance that had helped General Musharraf consolidate power after taking over in a coup eight years ago.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed said the gap between the people and army had been widened by military operations in trouble spots round the country, including the siege and storming of Islamabad's Red Mosque earlier this month to crush a Taliban style movement.

At least 102 people were killed in the Red Mosque operation, while Islamist militants have killed more than 180, mostly police and soldiers, in revenge attacks often using suicide bombers.

Musharraf has said he has no intention of imposing a state of emergency, though rivals fear he might use the deteriorating security situation to justify the measure and extend his stay in power.

The All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM), which groups major opposition parties except ex-premier Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), announced yesterday it would launch a nationwide anti-Musharraf campaign from August 9.

Bhutto, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Britain for a decade, said she would strike a deal to help Musharraf get re-elected only if it ensured fair parliamentary elections were held on time, according to Britain's Sunday Times newspaper.

In further fallout from Friday's Supreme Court decision to reinstate the chief justice after over four months of suspension, the government's top lawyer, Attorney-General Makhdoom Ali Khan, has resigned, a senior official said.

Musharraf aims to be re-elected by the current assemblies in September or October, but is going through his rockiest period in power.

He is also constitutionally obliged to give up his role as army chief by the end of the year, while parliamentary elections are expected by December or January.

(China Daily via agencies July 24, 2007)