Benazirs supporters go on rampage across Pakistan

Former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhuttos supporters went on a rampage on Friday burning vehicles, government buildings, and factories, blocking roads and screaming abuse at President Pervez Musharraf in anger over her assassination. At least 14 more people have died till now.

Karachi, Dec 28 : Former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto's supporters went on a rampage on Friday burning vehicles, government buildings, and factories, blocking roads and screaming abuse at President Pervez Musharraf in anger over her assassination. At least 14 more people have died till now.

In Jacobabad, protesters set fire to shops belonging to the family members of interim premier Mohammedmian Soomro.

Protesters torched buildings, trucks and shops, blocked roads and uprooted railway tracks. Shots rang out in a number of cities.

Banks and train stations were set ablaze, officials said.

Violent mobs burned 10 railway stations and several trains across Sindh province, forcing the suspension of all train services between Karachi and Punjab province, said Mir Mohammed Khaskheli, a senior railroad official.

A section of the track leading to the Indian border was also uprooted, he added.

A mob in Karachi looted three banks and set them on fire, police said.

About 7,000 people in Multan ransacked seven banks and a gas station and threw stones at police, who responded with the firing of tear gas shells. In Islamabad, about 100 protesters burned tyres in a commercial quarter of the city.

The killing of Musharraf's most powerful political opponent has plunged Pakistan into turmoil and damaged plans to restore democracy in country.

Paramilitary rangers were authorised to use live fire to stop the rioters from damaging property in southern Pakistan, said Major Asad Ali, a rangers' spokesman.

"We have orders to shoot at sight," he said.

About 4,000 Bhutto party supporters participated in rally in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Friday. Several hundred of them ransacked the office of the main pro-Musharraf party, burning furniture and stationery. The office, however, was empty and no one was hurt.

Protesters, carrying the green, red and black flags of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party shouted "Musharraf dog" and "Bhutto was alive yesterday, Bhutto is alive today."

ANI