Dec 17, 2007, 13:50 GMT
Islamabad - At least 10 people were injured and 65 arrested Monday as Pakistani police clashed with hundreds of pro-democracy activists in Islamabad, witnesses and police said.
Between 400-500 protesters demanding the release of deposed Supreme Court chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry attempted to march to Chaudhry's residence, where he is under house arrest within the city's government hub.
Police fired several tear gas canisters and did a baton charge to disperse the crowd, which included local university and college students, human rights activists, members of an opposition political party and lawyers. Among those injured by the baton-wielding police and tear gas were three journalists, witnesses said.
Police said the 65 arrests were made following the clashes, which occurred around 5:15 pm (1215 GMT).
Chaudhry was sacked after Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency on November 3, suspending the constitution, sacking dozens of judges who opposed him and curtailing the media.
Musharraf, a retired army general who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, cited a rise in Islamic militancy as the prime reason for taking emergency measures.
Many analysts say the measure was actually aimed at preventing the Supreme Court from nullifying his October 6 re-election, which was challenged by rival candidates on the grounds that the country's constitution barred a serving military chief from running for president.
Musharraf then stacked the courts with compliant judges who dismissed legal challenges against him, enabling him to retire from the army and be sworn in to a second five-year term On November 29.
Musharraf lifted the state of emergency on Saturday and reaffirmed that crucial parliamentary elections would be held on January 8. The government has refused to release Chaudhry and several other key judges and opposition figures.
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