KARACHI, Pakistan — Lawyers rallied against President Musharraf across Pakistan yesterday, burning him in effigy, calling for his ouster, and demanding the reinstatement of judges in the kick-off of a campaign that could strain the shaky coalition government.

The “Long March” by lawyers to the capital was heralded by gatherings in major cities and is expected to culminate later this week with a rally and sit-in outside parliament in Islamabad. Thousands of political activists and others were expected to join the demonstrations.

Lawyers spearheaded opposition to Mr. Musharraf’s rule last year. But their new protests to step up pressure on the American-allied leader to resign are also deepening rifts between the two main parties in the administration that won election on anti-Musharraf platforms.

The protests come as the two-month-old government faces a slew of other tests, including an ailing economy and Islamic militancy — the latter a major concern of America and other nations in the West.

The two main groups in the ruling coalition — the Pakistan People’s Party of Asif Ali Zardari and the Pakistan Muslim League-N of ex-Prime Minister Sharif — have failed to resolve differences over how to reinstate judges fired by the president in November. Mr. Sharif has pulled his members from the Cabinet and his party is participating in the protests.

Some 4,000 political activists, including supporters of Mr. Sharif, massed in Karachi yesterday to castigate the president. They chanted “Go, Musharraf, go!” and “Musharraf is an American dog!”

In the central city of Multan, lawyers hung a large effigy of Mr. Musharraf, kicked it, beat it with sticks, and set it ablaze.

Multan is the main first destination for activists now traveling from various parts of the country for the “Long March.” From there, the actual protest procession — much of it likely to involve cars and buses — was to officially start today and eventually end in Islamabad.

In the eastern city of Lahore, some 60 vehicles carrying lawyers and activists slowly toured the streets seeking to rally support. “We are out to save the judiciary — come with us!” participants chanted, handing out pamphlets. Some shopkeepers showered them with rose petals.

Mr. Musharraf ousted dozens of judges during several weeks of emergency rule that he imposed while facing legal challenges to his re-election as president by the previous parliament, which was dominated by his supporters.

Since winning February’s parliamentary elections, the parties led by Messrs. Zardari and Sharif have bickered over the mechanics of restoring the judges.

Mr. Sharif argues the judges’ restoration should be simple, with an executive order from the prime minister. But Mr. Zardari wants to link the judges’ return to a package of constitutional reforms that not only would affect the judiciary but also weaken the presidency.