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| Pakistan lawyers clash in Karachi | Pakistan lawyers clash in Karachi |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| At least six people have been killed and 12 others injured as rival groups of lawyers clashed in the Pakistani city of Karachi, police say. | |
| They say rioters set fire to at least five vehicles on the main street of the southern port city. | They say rioters set fire to at least five vehicles on the main street of the southern port city. |
| Violence broke out when supporters of President Musharraf held a protest against Tuesday's assault on a former cabinet minister by attorneys. | Violence broke out when supporters of President Musharraf held a protest against Tuesday's assault on a former cabinet minister by attorneys. |
| Sher Afgan Niazi, a former government minister, was attacked by a mob. | Sher Afgan Niazi, a former government minister, was attacked by a mob. |
| Local police officer Suleman Syed told the AFP news agency that one of those killed was a paramedic from a Karachi hospital who was sitting in his ambulance when it was caught in the crossfire between the two groups. | Local police officer Suleman Syed told the AFP news agency that one of those killed was a paramedic from a Karachi hospital who was sitting in his ambulance when it was caught in the crossfire between the two groups. |
| He said that a stray bullet hit the driver and killed him. | He said that a stray bullet hit the driver and killed him. |
| Police say that another group of people were believed to have been killed when a building collapsed. | Police say that another group of people were believed to have been killed when a building collapsed. |
| According to reports, a group of lawyers loyal to Karachi-based MQM party clashed with lawyers sympathetic to the ruling Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP). | According to reports, a group of lawyers loyal to Karachi-based MQM party clashed with lawyers sympathetic to the ruling Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP). |
| Arsonists set fire to offices of the Malir Bar, the only lawyers' association in the city which is not dominated by MQM loyalists. | Arsonists set fire to offices of the Malir Bar, the only lawyers' association in the city which is not dominated by MQM loyalists. |
| In many areas of the city, shops and businesses closed down after the violence started. | In many areas of the city, shops and businesses closed down after the violence started. |
| Played down | Played down |
| Meanwhile, a top Pakistani lawyer has condemned President Musharraf following the attack on Mr Niazi on Tuesday. | Meanwhile, a top Pakistani lawyer has condemned President Musharraf following the attack on Mr Niazi on Tuesday. |
| The former minister was surrounded by a group of angry lawyers who jostled him and tried to beat him with their hands and shoes. | The former minister was surrounded by a group of angry lawyers who jostled him and tried to beat him with their hands and shoes. |
| Mr Niazi was earlier trapped for several hours by the lawyers in an office building in the eastern city of Lahore. | Mr Niazi was earlier trapped for several hours by the lawyers in an office building in the eastern city of Lahore. |
| Aitzaz Ahsan, the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, offered to resign after the incident. | Aitzaz Ahsan, the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, offered to resign after the incident. |
| On Wednesday, at a press conference in Karachi he played down talk of resignation and instead called on President Musharraf to go. | On Wednesday, at a press conference in Karachi he played down talk of resignation and instead called on President Musharraf to go. |
| Mr Ahsan successfully defended the then chief justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry last year against an attempt by President Musharraf to fire him. | Mr Ahsan successfully defended the then chief justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry last year against an attempt by President Musharraf to fire him. |
| This helped to turn Mr Chaudhry - who was finally ousted in November under emergency rule - into a symbol of resistance against the President. | This helped to turn Mr Chaudhry - who was finally ousted in November under emergency rule - into a symbol of resistance against the President. |
| In a separate incident on Monday, the outgoing Chief Minister of Sindh province, Arbab Rahim, was assaulted by a crowd inside the Sindh assembly, when he went there to take his oath as assembly member. | In a separate incident on Monday, the outgoing Chief Minister of Sindh province, Arbab Rahim, was assaulted by a crowd inside the Sindh assembly, when he went there to take his oath as assembly member. |
| The BBC's Ilyas Khan says these two incidents have embarrassed Pakistan's new coalition government. | The BBC's Ilyas Khan says these two incidents have embarrassed Pakistan's new coalition government. |