28 die in clashes over suspension by Musharraf of top court judge
Men armed with assault rifles battled for hours yesterday in a confrontation between pro- and anti-government forces that raged through residential neighbourhoods in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, killing at least 28 people and injuring more than 100 others.
The strife in the volatile port city of 15 million people was the worst yet during a crisis that erupted two months ago when President Pervez Musharraf suspended the country's top judge.
Backers of Musharraf appeared to be the driving force behind the violence in Karachi.
In a neighbourhood close to the airport, smoke billowed from burning barricades, panicky motorists abandoned their vehicles and residents of high-rises took cover in inner rooms as the chaotic fighting continued through much of the day.
Musharraf, speaking at a rally in the capital city, Islamabad, appealed for calm but stopped short of declaring martial law in Karachi.
"If you are unhappy about what has happened ... halt these protests," the president told nearly 50,000 supporters. "There is no need for an emergency – the people are with me.''
Musharraf accused the country's senior jurist, Iftikhar Chaudhry, of misconduct when suspending him March 9. But many believed the president was acting to preclude a challenge to the validity of elections to be held later this year.
A judicial panel is examining Chaudhry's suspension, but it could take months to reach a conclusion.
Yesterday's fighting in Karachi broke out just before Chaudhry was to address a large gathering of lawyers, who have rallied to his cause. Chaudhry was expected to demand his job back and to urge Musharraf to either step down or give up his military role – a stance that his backers believe was his political downfall.
Opposition parties said the violence was orchestrated by the city's pro-government Mutahida Qami Movement. Leaders of the opposition planning to greet Chaudhry said police stood idly as they were beaten and intimidated at the airport, and during the violence that spilled into the sprawling city.
Opponents of Musharraf have accused him of engineering the coming parliamentary elections in a way that will ensure his continuing grip on power.
The violence threatened to put a damper on the Pakistani leader's recent reported overtures to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, now in exile in Dubai. Backers of Bhutto's People's Party were among those clashing with pro-government supporters in the violence that continued after nightfall in Karachi.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch condemned the unrest and called on the government to take stronger steps to protect civilians.
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