The decision to amend the Pakistan Army Act was confirmed by Attorney-General Malik Mohammed Qayyum yesterday.

The changes to the Act will allow military courts to try people accused of treason, sedition or 'giving statements conducive to public mischief'.

In theory, that could include opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, who has all along said she would defy Gen Musharraf's ban on public gatherings under emergency rule and lead supporters on a 300km march from the eastern city of Lahore to the capital Islamabad tomorrow.

Ms Bhutto is now in Lahore where she has been warmly received by her supporters.

Waving the black, red and green flags of her Pakistan People's Party, hundreds of frenzied activists shouted 'Benazir Prime Minister!' and 'Long live Bhutto', thrusting their arms in the air and making V for victory signs.

Ms Bhutto intends to lead the march in a procession of vehicles while the police have vowed to block the convoy, just as they stifled a planned protest rally in the city of Rawalpindi last Friday when she was held under house arrest for almost a day.

'I am here for democracy,' the former premier said on arrival at Lahore airport, where several hundred party activists and supporters managed to negotiate their way past barricades manned by police in riot vests wielding batons and shields.

Punjab province's elite police unit, with 'No Fear' printed on their tracksuits, stood guard.

'Even if the Punjab government tries to create hurdles, we will go for our long march on Nov 13,' she declared before getting into her bullet-proof Land Cruiser as supporters ran behind her waving party flags.

Ms Bhutto was expected to meet party officials and opposition leaders to discuss the march.

It is the latest phase of the former premier's high-stakes tussle with Gen Musharraf that will determine the future of the nuclear-armed nation.

After her release from house arrest on Saturday, she said Gen Musharraf's military-led government was about to crumble.

'This government is standing on its last foot. This government is going to go,' Ms Bhutto said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE