20 June 2004	Sunday	01 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, June 19: A man died of injuries, when he was caught in an exchange of brickbats between violent protesters and the police near Pakistan Chowk on Saturday. Shops and markets in several localities remained closed as Soyem of the slain PPP leader, Munawwar Suhrawardy , was observed in the city.

According to witnesses, some of the protesters, who gathered at Pakistan Chowk to protest the killing of Mr Suhrawardy in the afternoon, started pelting vehicles with stones and forced shopkeepers in the area to shut their shops.

The protesters clashed with police when the force tried to disperse them. They also pelted police with stones, which resorted to baton-charge the protesters.

During the clash, an unidentified man was hit by a stone in his head and suffered serious injuries.

He was taken to a hospital, where he died. The police claimed that the victim was a drug addict.

Meanwhile, city police claimed to have picked up 20-25 people for their alleged involvement in violent activities.

The shops and markets at Guru Mandir, Jamshed Quarters, Hyderabad Colony and some parts of Lyari were also closed.

The protesters raised slogans against the government for its failure to protect the PPP leader.

Heavy deployment of police and the Rangers was witnessed in the troubled areas of the city to maintain law and order.