The political crisis surrounding Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf deepened dramatically today, when gunbattles and clashes between supporters and opponents of the military-led government left 28 people dead in Pakistan’s biggest city.

Gun battles and attacks killed at least 11 people and wounded dozens today as Pakistan’s political crisis descended into violence between rival parties over President Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s suspension of the chief justice.

Dozens of stone-throwing Muslim youths set fire to shops in the Pakistani city of Karachi today as sectarian unrest rumbled on despite a citywide shutdown called by a hardline Islamic alliance to protest against violence that has left 12 dead this week.

Gunmen opened fire on a funeral in Karachi for two political party workers killed earlier today, leaving five more people dead.