Pakistan's president has defended his decision to remove the nation's chief justice and insisted that he had no personal differences with the former top judge.
President Pervez Musharraf has faced a growing crisis since March 9, when he suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry over unspecified allegations that Chaudhry had abused his authority.
The move angered many lawyers, retired judges and opposition leaders, who consider Musharraf's action an effort to remove a strong-willed judge ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections -- prompting violent protests on Friday and Saturday.
Addressing a rally in the eastern city of Pakpatan, Musharraf said that he had "no personal differences" with Chaudhry, and had acted against the judge after receiving a case against him from the prime minister.
"I am blamed for everything," state-run Pakistan Television quoted him as saying.
Musharraf also said some people were conspiring against him. He did not elaborate.
Musharraf's comments came after authorities eased restrictions on Chaudhry and sacked 15 police over an attack on the offices of Geo TV on Friday.
Chaudhry's lawyers have said Musharraf summoned the judge on March 9 and told him of the unspecified allegations against him. Chaudhry has been under detention in Islamabad since then.
On Friday, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court which is hearing the case against Chaudhry ruled that the restrictions on him be lifted.
Police did not prevent people from visiting Chaudhry on Saturday, a government official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. He said Chaudhry was also free to leave his home.
Musharraf has appointed Javed Iqbal as acting chief justice in the absence of the most senior judge, Rana Bhagwandas, who is to replace Iqbal after returning home from a foreign trip next week.
Meanwhile, police fired tear gas and swung batons at lawyers in Lahore on Saturday, sparking clashes in which several reporters and lawyers were injured.
The violence erupted when police tried to halt a rally by lawyers supporting Chaudhry.
With parliamentary elections due within a year, the move to replace Chaudhry was particularly sensitive. Musharraf will seek re-election from the outgoing assembly, and has given no indication that he is willing to accept opposition demands that he give up his post as chief of the army.
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