Protesters shouted “shame on you!” as baton-wielding police empowered by Pakistan’s state of emergency violently broke up a rally today and rounded up hundreds of opposition activists nationwide. The government said parliamentary elections could be delayed by up to a year, as it tries to stamp out a growing Islamic militant threat.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, joining a host of foreign governments expressing concern about Pakistan’s decision to suspend its constitution, said Washington was reviewing billions of dollars in aid to its close terrorism-fighting ally. Britain was also examining its aid package.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said up to 500 people had detained nationwide in the last 24 hours.

Among them were Javed Hashmi, the acting president of the party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif; cricket star-turned politician, Imran Khan; Asma Jehangir, chairman of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan; and Hamid Gul, former chief of the main intelligence agency and a staunch critic of General Pervez Musharraf.

Musharraf replaced the chief justice, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, who had emerged as the main check on the his power. Aitzaz Ahsan, a lawyer who represented the judge, was also arrested.

Around 200 police with assault rifles and sticks stormed the rights commission’s office in Lahore, breaking up a meeting and arresting about 50 members, said Mehbood Ahmed Khan, legal officer for the activists.

“They dragged us out, including the women,” he said from the police station. “It’s inhuman, undemocratic and a violation of human rights to enter a room and arrest people gathering peacefully there.”

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