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| Two dead ahead of Karachi rally | Two dead ahead of Karachi rally |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Two organisers of an anti-government rally in Karachi, Pakistan, have been shot dead, hours before the country's ousted top judge was due to arrive. | |
| Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was suspended by President Pervez Musharraf in March. He denies abuse of power. | Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was suspended by President Pervez Musharraf in March. He denies abuse of power. |
| The two dead men, shot at a roadside cafe, were from the party of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. | The two dead men, shot at a roadside cafe, were from the party of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. |
| A counter-demonstration in support of the government is also planned, and the city is reported to be very tense. | A counter-demonstration in support of the government is also planned, and the city is reported to be very tense. |
| Karachi has been divided into three security zones for the day, and 17 areas in the city have been declared high-risk zones, says the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan. | Karachi has been divided into three security zones for the day, and 17 areas in the city have been declared 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. |
| Senior city police officer Mushtaq Shah told Reuters news agency he did not know who had blocked the roads, virtually sealing off the airport, the High Court and much of the city centre. He said police would try to remove them. | Senior city police officer Mushtaq Shah told Reuters news agency he did not know who had blocked the roads, virtually sealing off the airport, the High Court and much of the city centre. He said police would try to remove them. |
| Mr Chaudhry is due to arrive at the airport at noon (0700GMT). | Mr Chaudhry is due to arrive at the airport at noon (0700GMT). |
| Hundreds detained | Hundreds detained |
| Our correspondent says lawyers in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, plan a massive reception for the chief justice. | Our correspondent says lawyers in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, plan a massive reception for the chief justice. |
| 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. |
| Mr Chaudhry was suspended from his post in March | Mr Chaudhry was suspended from his post in March |
| The ruling party in Sindh, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), has said it will hold rival demonstrations in support of President Musharraf's government. | The ruling party in Sindh, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), has said it will hold rival demonstrations in support of President Musharraf's government. |
| More than 15,000 security personnel have been deployed in the city to prevent violence. | More than 15,000 security personnel have been deployed in the city to prevent violence. |
| Late on Friday morning, a security guard was shot dead by armed men forcibly closing down a shopping centre on Karachi's main thoroughfare, Shahrah-e-Faisal. | Late on Friday morning, a security guard was shot dead by armed men forcibly closing down a shopping centre on Karachi's main thoroughfare, Shahrah-e-Faisal. |
| Earlier, police arrested scores of political activists and raided homes across the city. | Earlier, police arrested scores of political activists and raided homes across the city. |
| "We have detained over 100 people who are a risk to security on 12 May," Azhar Farooqi, the city police chief, told the BBC. | "We have detained over 100 people who are a risk to security on 12 May," Azhar Farooqi, the city police chief, told the BBC. |
| "We are monitoring the situation and there may be more arrests required." | "We are monitoring the situation and there may be more arrests required." |
| Both sides have refused to reschedule their rallies, and the lawyers have accused the provincial government of using intimidatory tactics. | Both sides have refused to reschedule their rallies, and the lawyers have accused the provincial government of using intimidatory tactics. |
| Ahead of the rallies, Munir Malik, a leader of the lawyers' campaign to have the chief justice reinstated, had his offices sealed by local building officials. | Ahead of the rallies, Munir Malik, a leader of the lawyers' campaign to have the chief justice reinstated, had his offices sealed by local building officials. |
| The courts later suspended the move. Hours later, his home was attacked by unidentified gunmen. | The courts later suspended the move. Hours later, his home was attacked by unidentified gunmen. |