Tuesday November 6, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
Pakistani policemen arrest a lawyer in Lahore. Photograph: Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images
Unrest broke out for a second day in the city of Multan, when hundreds of police prevented around 1,000 lawyers from leaving a district court complex to stage a street rally. Both sides pelted each other with stones, and police swung batons to disperse the crowd.
An Associated Press reporter saw at least three injured lawyers, two bleeding from the head. At least three were arrested.
In a separate clash, police stormed Multan's high court and arrested at least six lawyers.
Britain, the US and the UN have led international demands for Gen Musharraf to keep his earlier promises to restore the constitution, resign as the army chief and hold elections by January.
The Bush administration promised a review of US aid to Pakistan, which has totalled $11bn (£5.3bn) since 2001.
In Islamabad, confusion about the timing of elections continued. The attorney general, Malik Qayuum, and the president of Gen Musharraf's party, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, yesterday said they would take place by mid-January as planned.
However, the prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, refused to commit to a date, saying only that polls would take place "as early as possible", leaving open the possibility of a delay of up to a year.
Gen Musharraf wields vast power since usurping the constitution on Saturday in a move likened by analysts to martial law. Fundamental rights have been suspended, television stations censored and stringent media regulations introduced.
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the judge Gen Musharraf fired as the country's chief justice on Saturday, remained under house arrest. A Musharraf loyalist has been sworn in to replace him.
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