Pakistan ? Police battled protesters and stormed a television news channel Friday as the ouster of the top judge pushed Pakistan toward a political crisis that could threaten President Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s hold on power.

The controversy has galvanized opposition to Musharraf, a key ally in the U.S. war on terror, as he prepares to seek another presidential term this year.

An Islamist opposition leader and a former president were among dozens detained as demonstrators accused the military of riding roughshod over Pakistan’s slowly re-emerging democratic institutions.

Musharraf suspended Supreme Court chief justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry a week ago on unspecified allegations he had abused his authority. The government insists the move was nonpolitical and that Chaudhry could be reinstated.

But analysts and political opponents suspect Musharraf of sacrificing the independence of the judiciary to remove a strong-willed judge ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections.