Hundreds of policemen with shields and steel-tipped batons battled thousands of Nawaz Sharif's supporters outside the Supreme Court where the prime minister faced the most serious challenge yet to his leadership.
Sharif argued against a contempt charge brought against him for allegedly slandering the judiciary in comments he made several weeks ago at a media conference. The charge followed Sharif's public condemnation several weeks ago of Pakistan's Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah. The two men had fought over appointments to the Supreme Court.
In the end, the chief justice won and Sharif appointed five new judges to the Supreme Court, expanding the bench from 12 to 17. Sharif wanted only three additional judges appointed to the bench. If found guilty of contempt, Sharif could be removed from office. It is not clear whether that means his government would be dismissed.
Sharif sat in a jammed courtroom today as his lawyer read his statement, apologising to the Supreme Court if he offended the judiciary. But he added it was his job as prime minister to keep the country informed.
''I have the greatest regard and respect for the judiciary and parliament which has the power to legislate,'' Sharif said in his Urdu statement.
"At the media conference, I gave a very cautious statement but, if any of my remarks caused offence to the chief justice or any of the judges, I am sorry for that.''
It was not clear whether his apology would be enough to get him off the charges. Outside the grand white marble courthouse, scores of Sharif supporters chanted slogans vowing, ''Sharif will win. God is with him.'' Across the road, rival Benazir Bhutto's supporters screamed, ''Sharif must go.''
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