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Pakistan judge in 'tense' Karachi Violent clashes hit Pakistan city
(about 1 hour later)
Pakistan's top judge, suspended from his job by President Pervez Musharraf, has arrived in violence-hit Karachi for an anti-government rally. Rival Pakistani political groups have exchanged gunfire in the streets of Karachi, leaving at least 15 dead and more than 50 injured.
Twelve people died in clashes ahead of the rally, which Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry plans to address. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, suspended from his job by President Pervez Musharraf, had flown in to address a rally.
Rival political activists exchanged gunfire, and vehicles were set on fire as 15,000 troops patrolled the city, with many streets blocked off. But the violence meant he was unable to leave the airport.
Mr Chaudhry was suspended in March, but he denies any abuse of power. Opposition groups blamed the MQM party, which runs Karachi, of organising the unrest, but it denies this.
Since his suspension, Mr Chaudhry has become the focus of widespread opposition to the government of President Musharraf, who took power in a coup in 1999. In the worst violence, supporters of the pro-Musharraf Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and activists from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto fought gun battles for an hour.
The private Aaj TV channel showed pictures of its office under fire.
CHAUDHRY SUSPENSION 9 March: Musharraf suspends Chaudhry for "misuse of authority"16 March: Violence at pro-Chaudhry rally in Islamabad3 April: Chaudhry appears before private session of court6 May: Large rally in support of Chaudhry in Lahore12 May: Violence in Karachi, ahead of planned rally Timeline: Judicial crisisCHAUDHRY SUSPENSION 9 March: Musharraf suspends Chaudhry for "misuse of authority"16 March: Violence at pro-Chaudhry rally in Islamabad3 April: Chaudhry appears before private session of court6 May: Large rally in support of Chaudhry in Lahore12 May: Violence in Karachi, ahead of planned rally Timeline: Judicial crisis
"We are under attack," said journalist Talat Hussain on air, sheltering behind a wall.
"We have seen no security force. No one has come to help us."
"It is state-sponsored terrorism. The Sindh government is responsible but we are not going to back off," said Sherry Rehman of the PPP.
An MQM spokesman denied his party was involved in the violence at the TV station.
A public holiday had been declared in the city and the streets were largely deserted.
Trapped at airport
Since his suspension on charges of "misuse of authority", Mr Chaudhry has become the focus of widespread opposition to the government of President Musharraf, who took power in a coup in 1999.
A number of people were injured in clashes
Mr Chaudhry's supporters say that President Musharraf wants the judiciary headed by a lawyer whom he can more easily manipulate.Mr Chaudhry's supporters say that President Musharraf wants the judiciary headed by a lawyer whom he can more easily manipulate.
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. He flew from Islamabad to Karachi on Saturday morning, planning to address a rally in the city.
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. But after landing, he was unable to leave the airport, because roads into the city were blocked.
Rival protest One plan was for him to travel to the city centre by helicopter, but Mr Chaudhry insisted that he should be able to travel by road.
The situation in the city is "extremely serious", one security official told the AFP news agency. President Musharraf has ruled out a state of emergency, and appealed to the country to stand united and peaceful.
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 near the airport, with several deaths reported.
Dozens of people are reported injured.
Overnight, two men from the party of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were shot dead at a roadside cafe.
Later another 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.
One plan is for him to travel to the city centre by helicopter, but Mr Chaudhry is insisting that he should be able to travel by road.
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.
The ruling party in Sindh, the 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.
A number of people were injured in clashes A lawyers' spokesman told the BBC that bar association members in Karachi had been attacked by MQM activists in various parts of the city.
A lawyers' spokesman told the BBC that bar association members have been attacked by MQM activists in various parts of the city.
"Our colleagues have been brutally attacked while the government has given the MQM a free hand," he said."Our colleagues have been brutally attacked while the government has given the MQM a free hand," he said.
"This is the end of rule of law in the country.""This is the end of rule of law in the country."
The Sindh High Court was surrounded by hundreds of MQM political activists.The Sindh High Court was surrounded by hundreds of MQM political activists.
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 lawyers say that activists attacked them and prevented them from entering the high court premises where Mr. Chaudhry had been due to speak.