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| Pakistan police attack protests | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Police have used tear gas and swung batons to break up demonstrations by Pakistani lawyers against the country's state of emergency. | |
| Lawyers said many colleagues were arrested as protests were dispersed in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. | |
| The Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami was also targeted, saying hundreds of its members were arrested overnight. | |
| President Pervez Musharraf declared the emergency on Saturday, saying he was acting to curb extremism. | President Pervez Musharraf declared the emergency on Saturday, saying he was acting to curb extremism. |
| Critics, however, believe General Musharraf was acting to pre-empt a judgment by the Supreme Court on whether his re-election last month was legal. | Critics, however, believe General Musharraf was acting to pre-empt a judgment by the Supreme Court on whether his re-election last month was legal. |
| 'Merciless' attack | 'Merciless' attack |
| In Lahore an estimated 2,000 people congregated to stage a rally, but several were reported wounded when police waded in. | |
| "Police lobbed more than a dozen tear gas shells at lawyers who had gathered in the High Court and then beat them with batons," Sheikh Faisal, a lawyer at the court, told the AFP news agency by telephone. | |
| In Karachi about 50 lawyers were "whisked away in waiting vans" after police broke up a demonstration at the High Court and arrested some of those taking part, said Akhtar Hussain, a former president of the Sindh High Court Bar Association. | |
| Police also "mercilessly beat" half a dozen lawyers who were chanting anti-government slogans at a court in the city of Rawalpindi, lawyer Mudassir Saeed told AFP. | Police also "mercilessly beat" half a dozen lawyers who were chanting anti-government slogans at a court in the city of Rawalpindi, lawyer Mudassir Saeed told AFP. |
| Lawyers had called for a nationwide strike as well as public protests on Monday in response to Gen Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule on Saturday. | |
| Responding to reports of the crackdown on Jamaat-e-Islami, Information Minister Tariq Azim described the claim of hundreds of detentions as an exaggeration. | Responding to reports of the crackdown on Jamaat-e-Islami, Information Minister Tariq Azim described the claim of hundreds of detentions as an exaggeration. |
| He told the BBC that it was up to protesters to remain calm, or deal with the consequences. | He told the BBC that it was up to protesters to remain calm, or deal with the consequences. |
| "If people take law into their [own] hands, obviously, they have to be dealt with," he told The World Today. | "If people take law into their [own] hands, obviously, they have to be dealt with," he told The World Today. |
| Concern abroad | Concern abroad |
| The US has suspended defence co-operation talks with Pakistan set for this week, and says it will review its multi-billion dollar aid programme. | The US has suspended defence co-operation talks with Pakistan set for this week, and says it will review its multi-billion dollar aid programme. |
| EMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS Constitutional safeguards on life and liberty curtailedPolice get wide powers of arrestSuspects can be denied access to lawyersFreedom of movement restrictedPrivate TV stations taken off airNew rules curtail media coverage of suicide bombings or militant activityChief justice replaced, others made to swear oath of loyaltySupreme Court banned from rescinding emergency order In pictures: Emergency rule Declaration: Full text Cricket series goes on | |
| Defense Secretary Robert Gates, on a visit to China, said events in Pakistan were "disturbing", and called for a return to "law-based, constitutional and democratic rule as soon as possible". | Defense Secretary Robert Gates, on a visit to China, said events in Pakistan were "disturbing", and called for a return to "law-based, constitutional and democratic rule as soon as possible". |
| However, in reviewing its funding, the US would be "mindful not to do anything that would undermine ongoing counter-terrorism efforts... Pakistan is a country of great strategic importance to the United States and a key partner in the war on terror," Mr Gates said. | However, in reviewing its funding, the US would be "mindful not to do anything that would undermine ongoing counter-terrorism efforts... Pakistan is a country of great strategic importance to the United States and a key partner in the war on terror," Mr Gates said. |
| The UK, another major donor, says it is examining whether the emergency will affect its aid to Pakistan. | The UK, another major donor, says it is examining whether the emergency will affect its aid to Pakistan. |
| The government has suggested parliamentary polls scheduled for January could be delayed by up to a year. | |
| As well as hundreds of arrests of opponents of the government, rights have been suspended and media restricted. | As well as hundreds of arrests of opponents of the government, rights have been suspended and media restricted. |
| Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the emergency would last for "as long as is necessary". | Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the emergency would last for "as long as is necessary". |
| 'Decisive' opposition | 'Decisive' opposition |
| Gen Musharraf said he declared the emergency to stop Pakistan "committing suicide", because the country was in a crisis caused by militant violence and an unruly judiciary. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I think Musharraf has about the most difficult job on the planet David Bradshaw, Ashford, United Kingdom Your views on emergency West faces new dilemma | |
| Fears had been growing in the government that the Supreme Court could rule against Gen Musharraf over his eligibility to run for re-election. | Fears had been growing in the government that the Supreme Court could rule against Gen Musharraf over his eligibility to run for re-election. |
| Benazir Bhutto, a political rival of Gen Musharraf, told US TV channel ABC News that many people believed the emergency was aimed at "stopping a court verdict that was coming against him". | Benazir Bhutto, a political rival of Gen Musharraf, told US TV channel ABC News that many people believed the emergency was aimed at "stopping a court verdict that was coming against him". |
| The sacked chief justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, said Gen Musharraf's manoeuvre was "illegal, unconstitutional and against the orders of the Supreme Court". | |
| Are you in Pakistan? Did you witness any of the reported police actions? Send us your accounts using the form below. | Are you in Pakistan? Did you witness any of the reported police actions? Send us your accounts using the form below. |
| You can send pictures and video to: | You can send pictures and video to: |
| yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Click here to see terms and conditions | yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Click here to see terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |