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| Strike call over Karachi deaths | Strike call over Karachi deaths |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Supporters of Pakistan's suspended top judge have called a nationwide strike after 41 people died in political violence over the weekend. | Supporters of Pakistan's suspended top judge have called a nationwide strike after 41 people died in political violence over the weekend. |
| Authorities have banned gatherings of more than five people in Karachi where rival rallies triggered the worst street battles in recent years. | Authorities have banned gatherings of more than five people in Karachi where rival rallies triggered the worst street battles in recent years. |
| President Pervez Musharraf suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in March alleging misuse of office. | |
| He has since become a focus for protesters trying to end military rule. | He has since become a focus for protesters trying to end military rule. |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the weekend violence has marked a serious escalation in a crisis that began two months ago. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the weekend violence has marked a serious escalation in a crisis that began two months ago. |
| Rallies banned | Rallies banned |
| Opposition parties have called for a national strike and a day of mourning to protest against the bloodshed. | Opposition parties have called for a national strike and a day of mourning to protest against the bloodshed. |
| In Karachi, provincial authorities banned all political rallies as security forces tried to restore order. | In Karachi, provincial authorities banned all political rallies as security forces tried to restore order. |
| "We have banned the assembly of more than five people in any public place in Karachi for Monday," Sindh province interior secretary Brigadier Ghulam Muhammad Muhtaram told news agency AFP. | "We have banned the assembly of more than five people in any public place in Karachi for Monday," Sindh province interior secretary Brigadier Ghulam Muhammad Muhtaram told news agency AFP. |
| The authorities failed to bring calm to Karachi, the capital of Sindh, on Sunday. | The authorities failed to bring calm to Karachi, the capital of Sindh, on Sunday. |
| A number of people were injured in clashes | A number of people were injured in clashes |
| Troops were deployed across the city, but gunfire was heard in several areas, shops and vehicles were set alight and police were pelted with stones | Troops were deployed across the city, but gunfire was heard in several areas, shops and vehicles were set alight and police were pelted with stones |
| Funeral processions were accompanied by gun battles and arson. | Funeral processions were accompanied by gun battles and arson. |
| The fighting on Saturday was between supporters of the government and supporters of the Chief Justice but by Sunday it had begun to turn into clashes between traditional ethnic rivals. | The fighting on Saturday was between supporters of the government and supporters of the Chief Justice but by Sunday it had begun to turn into clashes between traditional ethnic rivals. |
| Opposition groups blamed the pro-Musharraf MQM party of organising the unrest, but it denied the claim. | Opposition groups blamed the pro-Musharraf MQM party of organising the unrest, but it denied the claim. |
| Executed | Executed |
| Early on Sunday, Karachi police chief Azhar Farooqi described the situation in the city as "very tense". | Early on Sunday, Karachi police chief Azhar Farooqi described the situation in the city as "very tense". |
| Pakistan's government on Sunday authorised paramilitary troops to shoot anyone involved in serious violence. | Pakistan's government on Sunday authorised paramilitary troops to shoot anyone involved in serious violence. |
| The BBC's Shoaib Hassan, in Karachi, says five of those killed on Sunday were kidnapped, then executed. One of them was an MQM worker. | The BBC's Shoaib Hassan, in Karachi, says five of those killed on Sunday were kidnapped, then executed. One of them was an MQM worker. |
| Another two people were tortured and then shot in the head, our correspondent says. | Another two people were tortured and then shot in the head, our correspondent says. |
| In at least three incidents, Pashtun businesses and shops were targeted, allegedly by the MQM, according to the owners. | In at least three incidents, Pashtun businesses and shops were targeted, allegedly by the MQM, according to the owners. |
| Mr Chaudhry was suspended from his post in March | Mr Chaudhry was suspended from his post in March |
| Meanwhile, in a Pashtun-dominated area in north Karachi, locals attacked vehicles or people dressed in the urban style of the Mohajirs who dominate the MQM. | Meanwhile, in a Pashtun-dominated area in north Karachi, locals attacked vehicles or people dressed in the urban style of the Mohajirs who dominate the MQM. |
| Mr Chaudhry abandoned plans to address a rally in Karachi on Saturday, finding his way into the city blocked. | Mr Chaudhry abandoned plans to address a rally in Karachi on Saturday, finding his way into the city blocked. |
| Karachi later turned into a battleground as supporters and opponents of President Pervez Musharraf exchanged gunfire on the streets. | Karachi later turned into a battleground as supporters and opponents of President Pervez Musharraf exchanged gunfire on the streets. |
| Tension building | Tension building |
| Speaking at a mass rally in Islamabad on Saturday night, Gen Musharraf ruled out declaring a state of emergency and appealed to the country to stand united. | Speaking at a mass rally in Islamabad on Saturday night, Gen Musharraf ruled out declaring a state of emergency and appealed to the country to stand united. |
| "If you really feel sorry over what has happened in Karachi, then stop these protests," he said. | "If you really feel sorry over what has happened in Karachi, then stop these protests," he said. |
| He also blamed "elements who tried to create turmoil by politicising" Chief Justice Chaudhry's suspension. | He also blamed "elements who tried to create turmoil by politicising" Chief Justice Chaudhry's suspension. |
| Since his suspension on charges of "misuse of authority", Mr Chaudhry has become the focus of widespread opposition to the government of Mr Musharraf, who took power in a coup in 1999. | Since his suspension on charges of "misuse of authority", Mr Chaudhry has become the focus of widespread opposition to the government of Mr Musharraf, who took power in a coup in 1999. |
| Correspondents say opposition parties have turned Mr Chaudhry's case into a campaign against military rule. | Correspondents say opposition parties have turned Mr Chaudhry's case into a campaign against military rule. |
| His supporters say that Mr Musharraf wants the judiciary headed by a lawyer whom he can more easily manipulate. | His supporters say that Mr Musharraf wants the judiciary headed by a lawyer whom he can more easily manipulate. |
| Tension had been building ahead of the judge's visit when the local authorities announced plans for a counter rally. | Tension had been building ahead of the judge's visit when the local authorities announced plans for a counter rally. |
| But the scale of the confrontation took people by surprise. | But the scale of the confrontation took people by surprise. |
| In the worst violence, MQM supporters and activists from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto fought gun battles for an hour. | In the worst violence, MQM supporters and activists from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto fought gun battles for an hour. |