Explosion Kills 24 in Pakistani Provincial Capital of Peshawar

A bomb exploded today in a hotel in the city of Peshawar, killing at least 24 people.

Today's incident heightens political tension in Pakistan as the President, General Pervez Musharraf, faces a growing challenge to his rule.

The explosion ripped through the reception area of the hotel in Peshawar's old city, near a mosque. The province's information minister, Asif Iqbal Daudzai, said 24 people were killed and 25 to 30 were wounded in the blast.

"I was in kitchen when I heard an explosion and a wall of our restaurant fell on my feet," Muslim Khan, an Afghan refugee, told Reuters.

Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan's volatile North-West Frontier province, has suffered a knock-on effect from the Pakistani government's efforts - under US pressure - to crack down on al-Qaida militants and Taliban supporters.

Peshawar was rocked by several bomb blasts in late 2006 and early this year, as militants angry at President Musharraf's alliance with the US struck out against the government.

The explosion in Peshawar raised tensions just as the country was returning to normal after a general strike yesterday that paralysed major cities such as Karachi.

Opponents of Gen Musharraf called a strike after clashes at the weekend that left at least 41 dead. The violence was triggered when Pakistan's chief justice, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, who was suspended by Gen Musharraf two months ago, cancelled a visit to Karachi.

Cancellation of the visit sparked fights between supporters and opponents of the government. Security forces made little effort to halt the violence which angered the opposition.

Suspension of the chief justice has galvanised the opposition and created the biggest political crisis for Gen Musharraf since he took power in 1999.

Today the supreme court took up a legal challenge by Justice Chaudhry on his suspension. The court is examining more than 20 petitions contesting the legality of the suspension for alleged misconduct, including one filed by the chief justice himself.

Opponents accuse Gen Musharraf of removing the independent-minded chief justice to pre-empt any possible legal challenges as he prepares to extend his rule by seeking a fresh presidential term.

To press for Justice Chaudhry's reinstatement, lawyers have mounted a series of protest rallies during hearings into his case, and as he has travelled around the country to drum up support.

In another twist in the case, the presiding judge Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday at today's hearing said the court had "taken cognisance" of the mysterious shooting death of a supreme court official, Syed Hammad Raza, at his Islamabad home yesterday.

"Each one of us was as shocked and grieved as anyone could be grieved over the matter," Mr Ramday said. "We are watching. This court is watching."

Police blamed robbers for the killing, but several relatives of Mr Raza claimed it was a target killing as nothing had been stolen from the house.