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Pakistan TV raid police suspended Pakistan police and lawyers clash
(about 7 hours later)
At least 14 policeman in Pakistan have been suspended for raiding a TV station during protests over the suspension of the country's top judge. Police in Pakistan have fired teargas and used batons to disperse hundreds of lawyers in Lahore rallying against the suspension of the country's top judge.
Officials say the government has also ordered a judicial inquiry into Friday's ransacking of the private Geo TV's office in the capital Islamabad. Lawyers said more than two dozen people were injured in the north-eastern city.
President Pervez Musharraf has personally apologised for the raid. Last week's removal of Supreme Court Judge Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry for abuse of office has sparked protests in several cities.
Protesters rallied in support of the suspended top judge in the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. In Islamabad, at least 14 policeman were suspended for raiding a private TV station during Friday's rallies.
President Musharraf suspended Mr Chaudhry last week for abuse of office, a move the judge's supporters say was aimed at muzzling the judiciary. The judge's supporters say the move by President Pervez Musharraf to suspend him was aimed at muzzling the judiciary.
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.
Reports said there had been further clashes between police and demonstrators on Saturday. Sit-down protest
Meanwhile, an unnamed official quoted by the Associated Press said barricades around Mr Chaudhry's home had been lifted and the judge was free to leave, although there was no independent confirmation of this. The clashes in Lahore started when police tried to stop the lawyers at the city's high court from holding a protest march, witnesses said.
Equipment smashed class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6458503.stm"> In pictures: Friday clashes class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6447215.stm">Lawyers' viewpoints
"The government has suspended 14 police officers for the incident at the Geo," Islamabad police chief Iftikhar Ahmed Chaudhry told the AFP news agency. The protesters then began hurling stones at the police, who hit back with stones, teargas and batons, a BBC correspondent in the city says.
class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6458503.stm"> In pictures: Tear-gas clashes class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6447215.stm">Lawyers' viewpoints More than two dozen people - including police officers and journalists - were injured during the clashes, the lawyers said.
He also said that "a judicial enquiry into the incident" had been ordered. They later managed to held a sit-down protests on the main road for more than an hour.
On Friday, police in Islamabad used tear gas against demonstrators during the protests. It seems that the government did not anticipate such strong reaction, following the sacking of Mr Chaudhry, the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says.
The police also moved in large numbers into the Islamabad offices of the private Geo TV station which, like other media outlets, had been defying government attempts to influence their coverage of the protests. Musharraf's apology
One police raid on the private Geo TV's office in Islamabad on Friday has caused particular public outrage.
The police moved in large numbers into the office of the company which, like other media outlets, had been defying government attempts to influence their coverage of the protests.
The police used long batons to smash glass, furniture and broadcast equipment.The police used long batons to smash glass, furniture and broadcast equipment.
Later President Musharraf apologised to Geo TV. On Saturday, at least 14 police were suspended and a judicial inquiry was ordered into the ransacking.
"Such an incident should not have happened. The culprits must be identified and punished," he said in a live interview with the station. President Musharraf earlier personally apologised for the raid.
"Such an incident should not have happened. The culprits must be identified and punished," he said.
Mr Chaudhry's lawyers said on Saturday that the security forces have removed barricades around his house and restored his telephone and television services which had been cut off.
ArrestsArrests
The violence began shortly before Mr Chaudhry made his second appearance before a tribunal at the Supreme Court. Friday's violence in Islamabad began shortly before Mr Chaudhry made his second appearance before a tribunal at the Supreme Court. There were similar protests when he appeared before the tribunal on Tuesday.
There were similar protests when he appeared before the tribunal on Tuesday. A number of people have been arrested during the protests.
Hundreds of lawyers - supported by high-profile opposition figures - rallied outside the Supreme Court despite sweeping security restrictions. Mr Chaudhry was suspended 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.
A number of protesters have been arrested after clashes broke out.
Protest rallies were also held in several other major cities.
Mr Chaudhry was suspended a 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.
The chief justice has vowed to fight his case.The chief justice has vowed to fight his case.
Lawyers say his suspension is an assault on judicial independence.Lawyers say his suspension is an assault on judicial independence.
They have been on strike all week over the issue in protest against the suspension.