[JURIST] Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's Saturday declaration of emergency rule [PDF text] is likely to end in two to three weeks, ruling Pakistan Muslim League party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain told Pakistan's English newspaper Dawn Tuesday. Hussain said that Musharraf understands the consequences of an extended declaration of emergency, and that it was enacted reluctantly from the start. Amid these statements, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto urged supporters to continue with a rally [AP report] against emergency rule planned for Friday despite the government's ban on protests and its threat to end any demonstration.

Pakistani police attempted to crush a Wednesday demonstration [AP report] launched by some 400 Bhutto supporters against emergency rule, with AP reporting the use of batons and tear gas against the crowd and police dragging at least half a dozen people from the area. Pakistani police Tuesday arrested some 50 lawyers [JURIST report] at the Lahore High Court who were involved in protesting the declaration of emergency, suspension of the constitution, and effective dismissal of Pakistan's Supreme Court. The arrests took place a day after a larger protest in Lahore escalated into violence [JURIST report]. CBC News has more.