Pak: Musharraf says plotters behind TV raid

Islamabad, Mar 17: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said today a police raid on a television station during protests against his government's suspension of the country's top judge was a conspiracy against him.

Police ransacked the office of the private Geo television station in Islamabad yesterday during protests by lawyers and opposition supporters against the government's March 9 suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary.

''There is a conspiracy going on and it has to be traced. Who is hatching this conspiracy so everything is put on me?'' Musharraf said in a speech in the town of Pakpattan, referring to the raid on Geo's office.

Musharraf, who is expected to seek election to another term in office late this year, telephoned Geo to condemn the raid and apologise. He said the culprits had to be caught.

He did not elaborate.

Reuters