KARACHI/ISLAMA-BAD, MAY 12 (Agencies): Pervez Musharraf's worst crisis since he seized power eight years ago deepened today as 27 people were killed in firing between his supporters and those of suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry in Pakistan's commercial capital but the President ruled out imposition of emergency.
Groups of activists belonging to MQM, a partner in the federal ruling coalition, and those of opposition parties supporting the suspended Chief Justice, fought pitched street battles using assault rifles firing indiscriminately in different parts of Karachi.
More than 150 people were injured, Geo TV said giving the casualty figures.
Chaudhry, who arrived in the country's commercial hub to address a rally of High Court lawyers, was stranded at the airport and was asked by the local government to avoid the meeting and return home.
While lawyers accompanying him from Islamabad have returned, the judge threatened to walk to the venue of the meeting in the troubled city.
Late night, he, however, decided to return to Islamabad.
The roads to the venue of his meeting were blocked with vehicles whose tyres were deflated.
The situation was so serious that Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz reviewed the latest developments at an emergency meeting as rumours spread thick and fast that a state of emergency would be imposed.
Unfazed by the crisis, Musharraf promised to hold free and fair polls later this year and described the issue involving the suspended Chief Justice was a "temporary irritant".
Putting up a brave front in the face of massive violence, Musharraf ruled out imposition of emergency and promised to hold free and fair polls later this year.
"Let me assure you there is no question of that (declaring President's rule), nothing of that sort is happening," he said addressing a mammoth rally here to drum up support in the midst of the political crisis sparked by suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry.
Musharraf, describing the problems arising of Chaudhry's suspension as an "irritant".
"It is a temporary irritant.
There is absolutely no requirement and environment for taking such drastic measures (like imposing emergency).
So these under-currents must stop.
There is no such need at all," he said.
Ruling PML-Q mobilised a crowd of over a lakh of people for the rally to counter the public receptions being accorded to Chaudhry, who was being supported by opposition parties.
While PML-Q held the rally here, its ally MQM organised its meeting in Karachi despite violence.
The idea of holding the rallies apparently was to prevent the repetition of last week's roadshow by Chaudhry from Islamabad to Lahore where he received massive pubic response.
There had been fears of a major clash between the opposition parties, which have skillfully exploited the Presidential reference against the suspended Chief Justice to launch a movement to oust Musharraf, and the MQM, a strong force in Karachi, for the last few days.
The Chief Justice had earlier refused to listen to an advice from the Interior Ministry to postpone his visit to Karachi because of terrorism threats.
The MQM, which is in power in the provincial and city governments, also made it clear it would not cancel its rally which it says would be a show of strength against the forces trying to use the judiciary issue to destablise the federal government.
(More) Sindh's Home Affairs Adviser, Waseem Akhtar, blamed the Chief Justice for the clashes in the city and said the provincial government would ask the President to file another reference against him for instigating violence.
Amjad Malik, a photographer for a local daily who was present near the FTC bridge where fierce fighting took place between rival groups, said there were no police or rangers to control the situation.
The television channels, which showed live pictures of the firing from Gurumandir, a busy commercial area of the city, Kala Board, Malir, Landhi snd PIB colony also noted that the law enforcement agencies were mere spectators as the political workers had a free hand against each other.
Unide ntified men in jeans and T-shirts and Shalwar Kameez were seen exchanging heavy fire behind cars.
Edhi sources said that many petrol pumps had also been set on fire in some parts of the city while over three dozen cars, wagons and motorcycles were torched and their wreckages were still burning.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao, who himself survived an assassination attempt by a suicide bomber in Charsadda town in North West Frontier Province few days back, said the provincial government had done everything to ensure security in the city but some people were busy trying to disrupt the peace.
"We are trying to get the situation under control.
What has happened is unfortunate.
We will also try to provide a safe route to the Chief Justice in waiting," Sherpao said.
