KARACHI—Rival Pakistani political activists battled in the city of Karachi as the country's suspended chief justice arrived to meet supporters and at least 10 people were killed, an official and the opposition said.
The government's suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on March 9 has outraged the judiciary and the opposition and has blown up into the most serious challenge to President Pervez Musharraf's authority since he seized power in 1999.
Opposition leaders said the city was under siege by supporters of the pro-government Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the party that runs Pakistan's biggest city. It was holding a demonstration against Chaudhry and what it calls the political tricks of his supporters.
Many roads including the one into the city from the airport were blocked by trucks, buses and containers in an apparent bid to disrupt Chaudhry's visit. Thousands of paramilitary troops and police were on patrol in the city, capital of Sindh province.
"It is state-sponsored terrorism. The Sindh government is responsible but we are not going to back off," said Sherry Rehman, a spokeswoman for the Pakistani People's Party (PPP) of former premier Benazir Bhutto.
Security officials said Chaudhry, who arrived on a flight from Islamabad, was in the airport VIP lounge.
Provincial government officials had warned of violence in the volatile city and had appealed to Chaudhry to postpone his trip.
"The chief justice should think about his decision and go back to Islamabad," said Sindh Interior Minister Waseem Akhtar.
Interior Ministry spokesman retired Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheema said eight people had been killed in clashes and 24 wounded. Earlier, an opposition party spokesman said two activists were shot dead in an attack on an office.
Chaudhry's visit to Karachi is the latest in a series of protests by the opposition and lawyers calling for his reinstatement.
While Chaudhry was due to meet supporters in Karachi, Musharraf was due to hold a rally Islamabad. He has called for Chaudhry's case to be settled by the courts.
The government said earlier it could impose an emergency if the situation were to warrant it.
Battles
Outside Karachi airport and in other parts of the city activists from the MQM clashed with rivals from the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, an opposition alliance of six religious parties that supports Chaudhry, and the PPP.
Heavy gunfire was heard and smoke rose from dozens of burning vehicles. Television showed pictures of men wielding AK-47 rifles crouching behind cars and firing at rivals. A man with a neck wound was shown crying in a bus.
Private Aaj Television said its office had come under fire.
Police said they did not know who had blocked Karachi's roads but a government official, who declined to be identified, said authorities had done so to maintain order.
Saturday has been declared a public holiday in Karachi and streets were largely deserted.
Several thousand MQM activists surrounded the High Court where Chaudhry was due to address lawyers. They chanted slogans and beat several lawyers trying to get in.
Chaudhry denies wrongdoing and has refused to resign.
The crisis has erupted in the run-up to a general election and an anticipated attempt by Musharraf, an important U.S. ally, to secure another term.
Musharraf, who is also army chief, wants to be re-elected by the national and provincial assemblies before they are dissolved for a general election around the end of the year.
Analysts say his main motive in seeking the removal of the independent-minded Chaudhry is to have a more pliable man in place in case of a constitutional challenge to his plans.
Feeds