Escalating political tensions in Pakistan, the opposition leader, Benazir Bhutto announced on Wednesday that her party would carry out a mass demonstration on Friday and a protest march next week if the President, General Pervez Musharraf, refuses to end a state of Emergency and hold elections in January.

Bhutto’s statements — which were followed by violent clashes between her supporters and police — set up an immediate confrontation with General Musharraf. Under General Musharraf’s Emergency decree, all public protests are banned.

“We are going ahead with the protest on the ninth,” Bhutto announced at a press conference after meeting with other opposition parties in Islamabad. “I understand my liberty might be at stake.”

After Bhutto’s press conference, police fired tear gas and beat about 100 of her party workers when they tried to push through police barriers blocking public access to the country’s Parliament building in Islamabad.

The threat of mass protest by Bhutto represents an escalation in the opposition to General Musharraf.

Until now, Pakistani lawyers have led the challenge to Emergency rule, carrying out small protests, and many hundreds have been beaten or arrested. But Bhutto’s party, the biggest opposition political party, is widely seen as the only force capable of bringing large numbers of protesters onto the streets.

The authorities have said they will not allow Friday’s demonstration, which is scheduled to take place in the garrison town of Rawalpindi, close to Islamabad. “We will ensure that they don’t violate the ban on rallies,” said Javed Akhas, the city’s Mayor, The Associated Press reported. “And if they do it, the Government will take action according to the law.”

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