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Three dead ahead of Karachi rally Pakistan judge in 'tense' Karachi
(40 minutes later)
Three organisers of an anti-government rally in Karachi, Pakistan, have been shot dead, as the country's ousted top judge arrived in the city. Pakistan's top judge, suspended from his job by President Pervez Musharraf, has arrived in violence-hit Karachi for an anti-government rally.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was suspended by President Pervez Musharraf in March. He denies abuse of power. Three people were shot dead ahead of the rally, which Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was to address.
He has now landed at the airport, which is guarded by troops, 15,000 of whom are patrolling the city. Gunfire has been reported and vehicles set on fire as 15,000 troops patrolled the city, where many streets have been blocked off.
Gunfire between rival political groups has been reported, and Karachi is said to be very tense. Mr Chaudhry was suspended in March, but he denies any abuse of power.
The city has been divided into three security zones for the day, and 17 areas have been designated high-risk zones, says the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan. Karachi has been divided into three security zones for the day, and 17 areas have been designated 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. The situation in the city is "extremely serious", one security official told the AFP news agency.
Hundreds detained One exchange of fire went on for half-an-hour between supporters of the pro-Musharraf Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and activists from the Pakistan People's Party of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Two men from the party of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were shot dead at a roadside cafe early on Saturday. Rival protest
Later a third political activist, belonging to the religious opposition party Sunni Tehrik, was killed by gunmen while he was putting up posters and banners. Overnight, two men from the party of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were shot dead at a roadside cafe.
Mr Chaudhry was suspended from his post in March
Later a third political activist, belonging to the religious opposition party Sunni Tehrik, was killed while he was putting up posters and banners. All three were killed by unidentified gunmen on motorcycles.
Mr Chaudhry has now landed at Karachi, but he is refusing to leave the airport until local lawyers are allowed to meet him.Mr Chaudhry has now landed at Karachi, but he is refusing to leave the airport until local lawyers are allowed to meet him.
Our correspondent says the lawyers in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, plan a massive reception for him.Our correspondent says the lawyers in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, plan a massive reception for him.
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 The ruling party in Sindh, the 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.
Mr Musharraf himself is due to address a rally in Islamabad later in the day.Mr Musharraf himself is due to address a rally in Islamabad later in the day.
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. There is a large military presence at Karachi airport
Earlier, police arrested scores of political activists and raided homes across the city. A lawyers' spokesman told the BBC that bar association members have been attacked by MQM activists in various parts of 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. "Our colleagues have been brutally attacked while the government has given the MQM a free hand," he said.
"We are monitoring the situation and there may be more arrests required." "This is the end of rule of law in the country."
Both sides have refused to reschedule their rallies, and the lawyers have accused the provincial government of using intimidating tactics. The Sindh High Court was surrounded by hundreds of MQM political activists.
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 lawyers say that activists attacked them and prevented them from entering the high court premises where Mr. Chaudhry is to give his address later on Saturday.
The courts later suspended the move. Hours later, his home was attacked by unidentified gunmen.