Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has resumed her campaign against emergency rule, following the lifting of a detention order against her. She joined a rally by journalists against a partial news blackout, and called for a fresh wave of protests.

But the former PM was stopped from meeting the dismissed chief justice, who remains under virtual house arrest.

On Friday she was briefly detained at home herself, and prevented from leading an opposition rally. President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency a week ago, blaming militant violence and interference by the judiciary.

Under the measures, the Pakistani constitution was suspended, opposition supporters arrested, Supreme Court justices replaced, and mass public gatherings banned.

Curbs on the media

Ms Bhutto has strongly condemned the state of emergency.

She called on Gen Musharraf to step down as army chief of staff by 15 November, and to hold elections by mid-January as planned.

On Saturday the opposition leader was allowed to leave her home - although the detention order she received on Friday was initially due to remain in force for three days.

She met officials of her Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and briefly joined journalists protesting against media restrictions.

Ms Bhutto said she was pressing ahead with plans to lead a protest march from Lahore to Islamabad, beginning on Tuesday.

“I request all segments of the population to join us in the struggle for democracy,” she said.

Ms Bhutto also tried to reach the Islamabad home of dismissed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry - which is surrounded by police - but officers turned her away.

The BBC’s Chris Morris in Islamabad says his role remains significant and lawyers are continuing to hold demonstrations demanding his reinstatement.

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Tags: Benazir, Bhutto, Detention, journalists, Malik, media, opposition, people's party, PPP, protests, Qayyum, Rally