Top Supreme Court official killed

A top official of the Pakistan Supreme Court was killed in the wee hours in Islamabad on Monday by dacoits.

Additional Registrar of the Supreme Court Hamad Raza was killed when he tried to resist the dacoits who raided his house, police said.

The killing came as suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was to appear before the apex court to hear into charges of misconduct against him.

The hearing would resume amidst a charged atmosphere in the country where firing between supporters of President Pervez Musharraf and the suspended Chief Justice has left 43 dead in Karachi.

Over 150 persons have been injured in the firing and arson between rival political parties and groups in Karachi. Political parties have called for a nationwide strike on Monday.

Accusing the government of preventing the suspended chief justice from addressing a lawyers' convention in Karachi, his attorneys have also called for a nationwide boycott of courts on Monday.