Thousands of lawyers have started rallies and protests across Pakistan to demand the reinstatement of senior judges sacked last year.
In Karachi, the protesters left the city in a fleet of vehicles, chanting slogans against President Musharraf for tampering with the judiciary.
They were joined by members of some opposition groups.
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'Historic day'
Similar marches have also begun in other cities in the provinces of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab.
The rallies are expected to converge in the city of Multan on Tuesday before proceeding to Islamabad.
Sabihuddin Ahmed, the deposed chief justice of the high court in the southern province of Sindh - told marchers in Karachi that Monday was a "historic day".
"Judges have come out to protect the country and the constitution," he said.
Correspondents say that about 4,000 activists from various political parties chanted slogans such as "Go, Musharraf, Go!" and "Musharraf is an American dog!"
Security forces were also out in large numbers, but the rally was peaceful.
Infuriated
Lawyers at a similar protest outside the Multan District Courts hung a large effigy of President Musharraf before beating it and setting it on fire.
The president dismissed dozens of judges, including the Supreme Court chief justice, in November when he imposed emergency rule. At the time he faced numerous legal challenges to staying on as president.
The move further enraged lawyers and his political opponents, who were already infuriated over his attempts earlier in the year to sack the Supreme Court chief justice.
After they won the elections, both the Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) promised to restore the judges but they have not agreed on the mechanics of how this should be done.
The PML-N argues that the judges should be restored by an executive order from the prime minister.
But correspondents say that the PPP wants to link the reinstatement of the judges to a major package of constitutional reforms.
The two parties also appear to differ over how to deal with President Musharraf.
PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif Sharif has called for his removal and trial for treason, but the PPP appears wary of a confrontation with the president, who has insisted that he has no plans to resign.
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(BBC)
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