This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6649089.stm
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Pakistan judge in 'tense' Karachi | Pakistan judge in 'tense' Karachi |
(10 minutes later) | |
Pakistan's top judge, suspended from his job by President Pervez Musharraf, has arrived in violence-hit Karachi for an anti-government rally. | Pakistan's top judge, suspended from his job by President Pervez Musharraf, has arrived in violence-hit Karachi for an anti-government rally. |
Three people were shot dead ahead of the rally, which Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry plans to address. | |
Gunfire has been reported and vehicles set on fire as 15,000 troops patrolled the city, where many streets have been blocked off. | Gunfire has been reported and vehicles set on fire as 15,000 troops patrolled the city, where many streets have been blocked off. |
Mr Chaudhry was suspended in March, but he denies any abuse of power. | Mr Chaudhry was suspended in March, but he denies any abuse of power. |
Since his suspension, Mr Chaudhry has become the focus of widespread opposition to the government of President Musharraf, who took power in a coup in 1999. | |
Mr Chaudhry's supporters say that President Musharraf wants the judciary headed by a lawyer whom he can more easily manipulate. | |
Karachi has been divided into three security zones for the day, and 17 areas have been designated high-risk zones, says the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan. | Karachi has been divided into three security zones for the day, and 17 areas have been designated high-risk zones, says the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan. |
A public holiday has been declared, and the city roads are largely deserted. A large number of streets have been blocked with lorries and water tankers. | A public holiday has been declared, and the city roads are largely deserted. A large number of streets have been blocked with lorries and water tankers. |
The situation in the city is "extremely serious", one security official told the AFP news agency. | The situation in the city is "extremely serious", one security official told the AFP news agency. |
One exchange of fire went on for half-an-hour between supporters of the pro-Musharraf Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and activists from the Pakistan People's Party of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. | One exchange of fire went on for half-an-hour between supporters of the pro-Musharraf Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and activists from the Pakistan People's Party of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. |
Rival protest | Rival protest |
Overnight, two men from the party of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were shot dead at a roadside cafe. | Overnight, two men from the party of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were shot dead at a roadside cafe. |
Mr Chaudhry was suspended from his post in March | Mr Chaudhry was suspended from his post in March |
Later a third political activist, belonging to the religious opposition party Sunni Tehrik, was killed while he was putting up posters and banners. All three were killed by unidentified gunmen on motorcycles. | Later a third political activist, belonging to the religious opposition party Sunni Tehrik, was killed while he was putting up posters and banners. All three were killed by unidentified gunmen on motorcycles. |
Mr Chaudhry has now landed at Karachi, but he is refusing to leave the airport until local lawyers are allowed to meet him. | Mr Chaudhry has now landed at Karachi, but he is refusing to leave the airport until local lawyers are allowed to meet him. |
Our correspondent says the lawyers in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, plan a massive reception for him. | Our correspondent says the lawyers in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, plan a massive reception for him. |
Opposition political parties - including the six-party MMA Islamic alliance and the country's largest party, the Pakistan People's Party - are also expected to participate. | Opposition political parties - including the six-party MMA Islamic alliance and the country's largest party, the Pakistan People's Party - are also expected to participate. |
The ruling party in Sindh, the MQM, has said it will hold rival demonstrations in support of President Musharraf's government. | The ruling party in Sindh, the MQM, has said it will hold rival demonstrations in support of President Musharraf's government. |
Mr Musharraf himself is due to address a rally in Islamabad later in the day. | Mr Musharraf himself is due to address a rally in Islamabad later in the day. |
There is a large military presence at Karachi airport | There is a large military presence at Karachi airport |
A lawyers' spokesman told the BBC that bar association members have been attacked by MQM activists in various parts of the city. | A lawyers' spokesman told the BBC that bar association members have been attacked by MQM activists in various parts of the city. |
"Our colleagues have been brutally attacked while the government has given the MQM a free hand," he said. | "Our colleagues have been brutally attacked while the government has given the MQM a free hand," he said. |
"This is the end of rule of law in the country." | "This is the end of rule of law in the country." |
The Sindh High Court was surrounded by hundreds of MQM political activists. | The Sindh High Court was surrounded by hundreds of MQM political activists. |
The lawyers say that activists attacked them and prevented them from entering the high court premises where Mr. Chaudhry is to give his address later on Saturday. | The lawyers say that activists attacked them and prevented them from entering the high court premises where Mr. Chaudhry is to give his address later on Saturday. |