Roads blocked ahead of CJ visit to Karachi

Many roads in Karachi were blocked on Saturday apparently aimed at disrupting plans by the chief justice to hold a rally with his supporters.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, who the government suspended on March 9 over undisclosed charges of misconduct, was due to fly to Karachi from Islamabad, later on Saturday and address lawyers at the High Court.

A pro-government political party (MQM) is planning to hold a rival demonstration in the city to protest against Justice Chaudhry and what it calls the political tricks of his supporters.

Senior city police officer Mushtaq Shah said he did not know who had parked trucks and oil tankers and placed containers across city roads, virtually sealing of the airport, the High Court and much of the city centre.

He said police would try to remove them.

But a government official, who declined to be identified, said authorities had blocked the roads in the interests of maintaining order.

Authorities had suggested that Justice Chaudhry travel from the airport into the city centre by helicopter, he said.

Saturday has been declared a public holiday because of the rallies and the city's streets were largely deserted.



FOUR WOUNDED

Opposition leaders said police detained hundreds of their activists on Friday, drove off others trying to set up rallying points along the airport road, and tore down banners put up to welcome Justice Chaudhry.

Authorities confirmed some activists had been detained. Police often detain activists briefly in advance of protests in an effort to maintain order.

Four people were wounded in firing near the airport early on Saturday but it was not known who they were or who attacked them, Shah said.

Attorneys for Justice Chaudhry said the judge would go ahead with his visit to Karachi despite worry about clashes and a request from the provincial government to cancel the trip because of terrorism fears.

The provincial government said this week terrorists might take advantage of the situation and police said they had arrested a dozen people planning to attack Justice Chaudhry's rally.

Justice Chaudhry denies wrongdoing and has refused to resign.

While Justice Chaudhry meets his supporters in Karachi, President Musharraf was due to hold a rally in Islamabad.