Pakistani lawyers, police clash over top judge

LAHORE, Pakistan, Mar 12 (Reuters) Pakistani police wielding batons beat lawyers in Lahore today as protests mounted against government moves to sack the country's top judge.

Details of allegations against Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary have not been released, but legal analysts said the action against him might be related to his efforts to make the government account for people who disappeared after being taken into custody.

The government's decision on Friday to suspend Chaudhary has given ammunition to critics of President Pervez Musharraf who is expected to seek another term in office late this year.

Police sealed off Chaudhary's residence yesterday morning, but the government denied he was under house arrest.

Police clashed with lawyers in business suits outside the Lahore High Court building after the lawyers tried to march down the city's main road.

Lawyers with bloodied heads were seen after police waded in among them, hitting out bamboo batons. Lawyers threw stones at police damaging some vehicles witnesses said.

''We'll not tolerate any insult to the judiciary,'' the chairman of the Lahore Bar Association, Mohammad Shah, told Reuters after the clash.

About 25 people, including 10 policemen, were hurt, police and lawyers said.

The government said on Friday a Supreme Judicial Council would hold an inquiry into ''numerous complaints and serious allegations'' against Chaudhary, the state-run APP news agency reported.

The news agency also cited ''misconduct and misuse of authority''.

''UNANIMOUS MESSAGE'' In the capital, Islamabad, a scuffle took place when police tried to stop opposition leaders from marching towards the chief justice at his residence.

''We wanted to meet him but they did not allow us. This is the proof that the government is lying and the chief justice is under house arrest,'' said Liaqat Baloch, a central leader of a six-party Islamic alliance, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).

Lawyers, many carrying black flags, went to courts today but did not attend proceedings, in a boycott that was observed in several Pakistani cities.

''Today, the entire lawyer community is out protesting and giving a unanimous message that we're against President Musharraf's action, we condemn it,'' Syed Zulfiqar Ali Bokhari, Secretary Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association, told Reuters.

Extra Police were on duty outside the Supreme Court and parliament. Bokhari said protests would continue until the government reviewed its decision.

Lawyers and legal analysts said one reason for the government move against Chaudhary might have stemmed from his recent call to the government to provide details of people who have disappeared after being taken into custody.

Human rights groups have criticised the disappearance of at least 400 people since Pakistan joined the US-led war on terrorism in 2001.

Lawyers in the northwestern city of Peshawar rallied in front of the provincial governor's residence. Some carried placards reading: ''Go Musharraf Go'' and ''Restate our honourable Chief Justice'', witnesses said.

Musharraf, who is also army chief, came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999. An important US ally in the war on terrorism, he has faced criticism for refusing to give up his army post.

REUTERS MS HS1944