Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has said she will ask exiled premier Nawaz Sharif to form a united opposition front against President Pervez Musharraf.
She said the aim of their talks will be to form a common front, to formulate a joint strategy for saving democracy.
She also contacted old rivals including Islamist alliance leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Mr Khan to urge a 'coalition of interests', party officials said.
Seeking to isolate President Musharraf after he declared a state of emergency, they are hoping to reach agreement for an all-parties conference later this month.
Earlier, opposition politician Imran Khan was arrested after making his first public appearance since emergency rule was declared.
The former cricketer was detained after going to the University of Punjab in Lahore to address a protest by students against President Pervez Musharraf.
Yesterday, Ms Bhutto said that talks with Mr Musharraf were over and for the first time called on him to step down as president as well as army chief.
President Musharraf today vowed not to quit until the country's political turmoil was over and strongly defended his decision to impose a state of emergency.
'The day when there is no turmoil in Pakistan, I will step down' he said in an interview with Sky News. 'I am not a dictator, I want a democracy.'
Mr Musharraf, who took power in a 1999 coup, declared emergency rule on 3 November, suspended the constitution and rounded up thousands of opponents.
Last weekend he said general elections would be held by 9 January. However, he did not say when the constitution would be restored or the emergency lifted.
He said the state of emergency would ensure a fair vote.
