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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Tear gas against Pakistan lawyers | Tear gas against Pakistan lawyers |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Pakistani police have used tear gas near the Supreme Court in Islamabad to disperse protesters angered at the suspension of the court's top judge. | Pakistani police have used tear gas near the Supreme Court in Islamabad to disperse protesters angered at the suspension of the court's top judge. |
| Hundreds of lawyers have rallied in defiance of security restrictions. | Hundreds of lawyers have rallied in defiance of security restrictions. |
| Earlier many opposition activists were arrested hours before Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was due to appear before a judicial tribunal. | Earlier many opposition activists were arrested hours before Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was due to appear before a judicial tribunal. |
| He denies charges of misconduct. His supporters say the government is trying to silence him. | He denies charges of misconduct. His supporters say the government is trying to silence him. |
| Later on Friday police moved in to the offices of the private Geo TV station and smashed furniture, windows and equipment. Geo has been defying government warnings over covering the protests. | |
| Rallying point | Rallying point |
| Mr Chaudhry has a reputation for independence and has challenged the government on several cases. | Mr Chaudhry has a reputation for independence and has challenged the government on several cases. |
| He is making his second appearance before the tribunal at the Supreme Court on Friday. | He is making his second appearance before the tribunal at the Supreme Court on Friday. |
| Qazi Hussain Ahmed was arrested outside the court | Qazi Hussain Ahmed was arrested outside the court |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that the chief justice made a triumphal entry into the supreme court. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that the chief justice made a triumphal entry into the supreme court. |
| Supporters surrounded his vehicle, and some rode on top of it through the gate. | Supporters surrounded his vehicle, and some rode on top of it through the gate. |
| They chanted slogans like "justice lead, we will follow". Many of the slogans were also aimed against President Pervez Musharraf who suspended the top judge last week. | They chanted slogans like "justice lead, we will follow". Many of the slogans were also aimed against President Pervez Musharraf who suspended the top judge last week. |
| General Musharraf has accused protestors of politicising the issue and says he will abide by the decision of the judicial council. | General Musharraf has accused protestors of politicising the issue and says he will abide by the decision of the judicial council. |
| Our correspondent says that Mr Chaudhry's suspension seems to have become a rallying point for all those with grievances against the government of President Pervez Musharraf. | Our correspondent says that Mr Chaudhry's suspension seems to have become a rallying point for all those with grievances against the government of President Pervez Musharraf. |
| On Thursday, police arrested hundreds of opposition politicians and supporters in a bid to quell further violence. | On Thursday, police arrested hundreds of opposition politicians and supporters in a bid to quell further violence. |
| Paramilitary police prepare for confrontation | Paramilitary police prepare for confrontation |
| But the arrests did not stop several hundred lawyers from marching to the Supreme Court on Friday despite a massive police presence in Islamabad. They were supported by high-profile opposition figures. | But the arrests did not stop several hundred lawyers from marching to the Supreme Court on Friday despite a massive police presence in Islamabad. They were supported by high-profile opposition figures. |
| Security forces blocked traffic and rolled barbed wire across roads leading up to the courthouse. | Security forces blocked traffic and rolled barbed wire across roads leading up to the courthouse. |
| Clashes broke out and police detained a number of protesters. They include Qazi Hussain Ahmed, the leader of the hard-line Islamic coalition, the MMA, who was taken away in a police vehicle. | Clashes broke out and police detained a number of protesters. They include Qazi Hussain Ahmed, the leader of the hard-line Islamic coalition, the MMA, who was taken away in a police vehicle. |
| Media restrictions | Media restrictions |
| Also arrested was Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, another senior Islamic politician, who was detained by police along with several supporters near the Supreme Court building. | Also arrested was Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, another senior Islamic politician, who was detained by police along with several supporters near the Supreme Court building. |
| The media is facing further restrictions on its reporting. The broadcasting authority, Pemra, has banned the Geo TV station Geo from showing one of its current affairs programmes. | The media is facing further restrictions on its reporting. The broadcasting authority, Pemra, has banned the Geo TV station Geo from showing one of its current affairs programmes. |
| Both Geo and another network, Aaj, have had their broadcasts suspended in recent days due to their coverage of the protests. | Both Geo and another network, Aaj, have had their broadcasts suspended in recent days due to their coverage of the protests. |
| The security forces were unable to stop the protests turning violent | The security forces were unable to stop the protests turning violent |
| Mr Chaudhry was suspended one week ago by President Musharraf after he had received "numerous complaints and serious allegations for misconduct, misuse of authority and actions prejudicial to the dignity of office of the chief justice of Pakistan", the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency said. | Mr Chaudhry was suspended one week ago by President Musharraf after he had received "numerous complaints and serious allegations for misconduct, misuse of authority and actions prejudicial to the dignity of office of the chief justice of Pakistan", the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency said. |
| Details of the charges have not been made public. | Details of the charges have not been made public. |
| Lawyers say the judge's suspension is an assault on judicial independence. | Lawyers say the judge's suspension is an assault on judicial independence. |
| They have been on strike all week over the issue in protest against the suspension. | They have been on strike all week over the issue in protest against the suspension. |
| The chief justice himself has vowed to fight his case, both to clear his name and to defend the independence of the judiciary. | The chief justice himself has vowed to fight his case, both to clear his name and to defend the independence of the judiciary. |