A Pakistani protestor carries an injured
man during clashes which erupted between the government and oppositions
parties supporters in Karachi. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
ISLAMABAD,
May 12 (Xinhua) -- Up to 30 people were killed and scores others injured in
clashes between rival political groups in the Pakistani port city of Karachi
Saturday as the suspended chief justice arrived in the city, TV channels
reported.
Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao
confirmed deaths of 17 people in the clashes.
Private TV channels ARY and Aaj put the death toll
between 27 and 30. They reported that around 80 people were injured. Most of the
injured received bullets.
Reports quoted Faisal Edhi, an official of the Edhi
ambulance service, as saying that many injured were laying on the roads and they
could not be taken to hospitals as the authorities and armed groups had blocked
roads.
Firing broke out between activists of the ruling
coalition Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and other opposition groups in different
parts of the city, as Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry arrived in the
city in the afternoon to address the lawyers.
But Chaudhry was confined at the airport for eight
hours as the official protocol cars, which were supposed to take him to the
city, could not reach the airport because of the closure of roads.
Pakistani protestors overturn a car
during clashes which erupted between the government and oppositions
parties supporters in Karachi.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
Sources
said that officials met the Chief Justice at the airport and suggested him to go
in a helicopter to the building of Sindh High Court, where he was scheduled to
address lawyers. But he refused to do so.
Opposition groups had announced to accord warm
welcome to the chief justice, who has emerged as symbol of resistance since his
suspension on March 9.
Tension gripped the city after the government allied
group MQM also announced to hold a counter rally against the opposition parties
on the same day.
Witnesses said that more than 20 vehicles, both
official and private, were burnt in different localities. Several petrol
stations were also burnt by armed men, who took control of most parts of the
city.
Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf has
called an emergency meeting with the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz over the
Karachi killings. Important decisions would be taken in a high level meeting,
according to the private Geo TV.
However, earlier Saturday, Musharraf categorically
stated that there was no question of imposing emergency in the country and urged
the nation to stand united and peaceful.
"There is absolutely no requirement and absolutely no
environment for taking such drastic measure so these undercurrents must stop,"
Musharraf told the official APP news agency.
ISLAMABAD, May 12 (Xinhua) -- The government of the
southern Pakistani province of Sindh Saturday ordered defense lawyers of the
suspended chief justice to leave Karachi, where they were scheduled to address
lawyers.
The private NNI news agency quoted Sindh Governor Ishratul
Ebadas saying that the lawyers, who came from Islamabad with Chief Justice
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, to leave Karachi, the provincial capital.
ISLAMABAD, May 12 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 people were
killed and scores of others injured in incidents of firing in the Pakistani port
city of Karachi on Saturday, TV channels and ambulance service said.
Firing broke out in different parts as the suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry arrived in Pakistan's biggest city.
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