Pakistani cleric murder charges

Pakistani police said on Sunday that they had "registered a murder case" against popular anti-government cleric Tahir ul Qadri after a policeman died of his injuries following clashes with Qadri's supporters in the city of Lahore on Friday.

In Pakistan, police must first register a case against someone before charging him or her with a crime.

The police officer was fatally injured when police tried to prevent hundreds of Qadri's followers from removing shipping containers used by security forces to block roads to the cleric's residence in the Model Town area of the eastern city.

The violence continued on Saturday, mainly in Punjab province, of which Lahore is the capital. Clashes there left at least two others dead, including another police officer.

No major violence was reported on Sunday, but witnesses said thousands of Qadri's supporters had gathered outside his house in Lahore amid a large police presence. After Saturday's renewed clashes, Qadri reportedly canceled a mass prayer procession due to be held in Lahore on Sunday.

The government on Friday banned gatherings of more than five people in the city.

Peaceful ouster?

Qadri returned from Canada, where he is based, in June to lead what he claims is a "peaceful revolution." He has, however, threatened to march on the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, and overthrow the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, which he sees as favoring the country's elite.

In 2013, he held a four-day sit-in in protest at the government ahead of an election that saw Sharif come to power for a third term.

Officials say hundreds of his supporters have been arrested over the past few days.

Police in Pakistan are now bracing for a separate protest rally in Lahore planned by opposition leader Imran Khan for Thursday. Khan, a former international cricketer, wants electoral reforms and an investigation into last year's elections, claiming that Sharif was returned to power on the basis of a rigged poll.

Tensions with the army

The protests come amid increased tensions between the civilian government and a military disgruntled in part by the prosecution for treason of former army chief and ex-president Pervez Musharraf.

Some in the army also oppose certain goverment policies, including that of rapprochement with the country's nuclear-armed arch-rival, India.

This has led to fears on the part of some ruling party members that the military may be supporting anti-government protests.

tj/nm (Reuters, AFP)