Benazir vows uprising, Sharif urges West to abandon Musharraf

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WASHINGTON, NOV 7 (Agencies): Congress and the US government are taking a second look at American aid to Pakistan after President PervezMusharraf's declaration of emergency rule and a crackdown on hispolitical opponents.
However, US officials are concerned about going too far inrebuking a close ally or damaging its ability to pursue terrorists within its borders.
The administration of US President George W. Bush is seeking US$800 million for Pakistan for the current budget year. Since 2001, the US has provided Pakistan with an estimated US$9.6 billion.
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte was scheduled to testify Wednesday about Pakistan before the House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee.
It was unclear whether he would announce any changes to US policy.
Musharraf has imposed a state of emergency that he says is necessary to prevent a takeover by Islamic extremists. His actions, which include suspending his country's constitution and ousting its top judge, have drawn widespread criticism in Congress.
Democratic Senator Joe Biden, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he advised Musharraf during a phone call Tuesday to allow elections in January as planned and to restore the rule of law.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, has vowed to launch a massive protest march unless Musharraf steps down as head of the army and restores the constitution by next Tuesday.
Bhutto told a rally that she would make a 300-kilometer "long march" from Lahore to Islamabad if Musharraf does not reverse his emergency decree by November 13.
In the meantime, she said her supporters would hold a demonstration in Rawalpindi on Friday. She called on all Pakistanis to volunteer to be arrested if she and the leadership of her party are detained.
Another report adds, Exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif urged the West Wednesday to abandon the country's military ruler, Musharraf.
Sharif told The AP that Pakistan was heading deeper into chaos and his archenemy had outlived his usefulness in fighting terrorism.
Sharif also ruled out teaming up with Benazir Bhutto, another key opposition leader, unless she cut off talks with Musharraf.
"One man is holding the entire nation hostage for his personal interests," Sharif said, referring to the US-allied military leader who declared emergency rule at the weekend, and has since rounded up thousands of opposition activists and protesting attorneys.