NYT : Pakistan Suspends Police Officials

Pakistan Suspends Police Officials

By SALMAN MASOOD | October 1, 2007

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Oct. 1 — Iftikhar Muhammad Chauhdry, the chief justice of Pakistan’s supreme court, ordered the immediate suspensions of the Islamabad police chief and two other senior law enforcement officials after a weekend in which local police officers attacked journalists and protesting lawyers.

On Saturday, dozens of lawyers were beaten up as they protested President Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s bid for re-election. Riot police officers used batons and tear gas against journalists and the lawyers, who were chased into the Supreme Court building.

The lawyers were protesting the legality of Mr. Musharraf’s bid, but today the Election Commission issued the final list of the five candidates, including the president. The two main challengers of the president are a retired judge, Wajihuddin Ahmed, and Makhdoom Amin Fahim, the vice chairman of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party. The presidential election is set for Oct. 6.

Mr. Chaudhry, who was reinstated by the Supreme Court in July after fending off an attempt by Mr. Musharraf to dismiss him, led a three-member panel during today’s hearing in a packed courtroom.

Following the high court’s instructions in a “suo motu” notice, the Interior Ministry suspended Inspector General Islamabad Syed Marwat Ali Shah, Senior Superintendent Police Naeem Khan and Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Muhammad Ali.

The three officials will be served with contempt of court notices, with the next date of hearing set for Oct. 23, according to court officials. Shahid Nadeem Baloch, the Deputy Inspector General Police of Islamabad, has been given title of the acting Inspector General of Islamabad Police.

Mr. Chaudhry also ordered the government to pay for the treatment of the injured lawyers and journalists.

In Bannu, located in Northwestern Pakistan, at least 15 people were killed when a suicide bomber detonated explosives this morning, the state-run news media reported. At least 28 people were wounded, four said to be in critical condition.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility.

Most of the dead were waiting for public transportation when the suicide bomber attacked in Bannu’s Afsar Square.