Rousing calls for protest in Pakistan - Defiance of Musharraf by ex-Premier Bhutto and the deposed chief justice may increase the risk of a standoff.

Pakistan's deposed chief justice issued a rousing call for followers to resist Musharraf's emergency declaration, while former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto arrived here in the capital and demanded restoration of the constitution and the holding of free elections. Bhutto plans to participate in a demonstration against the emergency measures Friday in the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Musharraf, a general who seized the presidency in 1999 and remains army chief of staff, assumed sweeping new powers Saturday. Since then, he has suspended the constitution, fired Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, knocked independent television stations off the air, and had thousands of opponents rounded up by police.

Pakistanis have taken to calling it Musharraf's "second coup."

Despite the deepening crisis, President Bush refrained for a fourth day from calling Musharraf. Bush faced demands that he take more strenuous action amid fear of even greater instability in Pakistan, which relies heavily on U.S. military aid and has helped the United States in its war against Al Qaeda.

Chaudhry, addressing supporters for the first time since being placed under effective house arrest Saturday night, declared that "this is the time to sacrifice" -- language that appeared to suggest that mass street protests should go ahead even if they result in bloodshed.

The former justice, who this year has become an emblem of resistance to Musharraf's rule, spoke by cellphone to about two dozen lawyers who crowded into the small offices of the Islamabad Bar Assn. Hundreds more lawyers, wearing their "uniform" of black suits and ties, gathered outside, listening in on loudspeakers.

Chants arose from the crowd at the sound of Chaudhry's voice, quickly shushed by those who wanted to hear. "Musharraf is a criminal!" some yelled. "Chaudhry, Chaudhry!" others chanted.

"The constitution has been ripped to shreds," he said, his voice crackling over the loudspeakers as the crowd fell silent. "The lawyers should convey my message to the people to rise up and restore the constitution."