Pakistani protesters clash with police over judge

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani police fired teargas, detained about 150 activists and raided a television station on Friday as protesters took to the streets to denounce the government's suspension of the country's chief judge.

The government moved to sack Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary a week ago, sparking protests by lawyers and uniting disparate opposition parties against President Pervez Musharraf, who is expected to seek election for another term late this year.

A panel of judges considering the case against Chaudhary at a hearing at the Supreme Court ordered restrictions on him be lifted, Chaudhary's lawyers said.

"We can say it is a step forward," one of his lawyers, Tariq Mehmud, told reporters. The next hearing is on March 21.

Chaudhary, who refused to resign, has been confined to his home since his March 9 suspension. He has been allowed out only to attend sessions of the panel hearing his case, although authorities deny he is under house arrest.

The government has released no details of the accusations against Chaudhary but a state news agency cited "misconduct and misuse of authority". There has been no indication how long his hearing will last.

The affair has fuelled suspicion that Musharraf feared the independent-minded judge would oppose any move by him to retain his role as army chief, which constitutionally the president should relinquish this year.

A U.S. official said on Thursday the United States was watching. The United States sees Musharraf as a vital ally in the war on terrorism while it also encourages democracy.

Hundreds of police were on the streets of Islamabad, using concrete blocks and coils of barbed wire to seal off the city centre, including the Supreme Court.

Despite the cordon, about 600 lawyers in business suits, bearded Islamist politicians and liberal party supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court chanting "Go Musharraf Go!"

They cheered and clapped as Chaudhary arrived for the closed-door hearing with his lawyers, and again when he left.

RAID ON TV OFFICE

Earlier, the leader of an alliance of Islamist parties, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, called for the army to support the protest.

"We call on the army and other institutions -- this movement is for the survival of these institutions," Ahmed told reporters before he and about a dozen supporters were led away by police.

Small groups of Ahmed's supporters threw stones and shouted "Allahu akbar" (God is Greatest) before police firing teargas chased them away, stopping them from joining the rally at the Supreme Court.

Police later raided the nearby office of private GEO television, breaking windows, scuffling with staff and demanding the removal of a roof-top camera covering the disturbances.

Musharraf later telephoned GEO to condemn the raid. "This should have not happened. I apologise. The culprits must be identified and punished," he said.

There has been a flood of media criticism of Chaudhary's removal and authorities banned a television talk show that has been focussing on the case.

Musharraf, accused of acting unconstitutionally in trying to sack Chaudhary, said on Thursday he would not interfere in the panel's decision.

Protests were held in other cities including Multan, where about 25 activists were detained, an opposition official said.

In Lahore, police said they detained 125 activists and later wielded batons and fired teargas to disperse protesters.

Supporters of exiled former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, who Musharraf ousted in a 1999 coup, joined the protests.

"Our struggle will continue until the end of dictatorship," said Raza Rabani, a leader of Bhutto's party.

(Additional reporting by Augustine Anthony)