Nawaz Sharif waves to crowds celebrating independence

Pakistan 50th Anniversary Independence Celebrations Marred by Violence

At least two people were killed and 20 wounded when police fired on surging crowds at the tomb of Pakistan's founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

A guard of honour at the tomb of Mohammed Ali Jinnah

First reports said that the trouble began after a policeman was attacked by a group of men. A BBC Correspondent pointed out that Karachi has been plagued by violence for more than a decade and that the security forces are not widely respected in the city.

A report from the Associated Press news agency said that both civilians and police carrying guns fired at each other. The report added that one of the fatalities was a young boy who was killed after a police officer sprayed bullets into the crowd.

The other fatality was a paramilitary guard, who died on the way to hospital. A policeman was reported to be among the injured, along with two young girls who had been singing in the celebrations led by Mr Sharif and the Pakistani President Farouq Leghari.

In his speech, Mr Sharif said the clouds of dismay hanging over Pakistan were beginning to disappear, and it was ready to face the future with pride.

Celebrations in Islamabad

He said that there was a long road of challenges ahead, but that Pakistan was beginning to turn the impossible into the possible. He talked of the progress the country had made and the burden still holding it back, particularly its huge debts. Half the national budget goes on just paying off the interest.

Children sing in celebration of Pakistan's independence

But as both countries prepared for the independence celebrations, India accused Pakistan of developing medium-range nuclear missiles with Chinese help. India's junior Foreign Minister, Kamala Sinha, said: "The acquisition of missiles and related technologies by Pakistan is being continuously monitored and assessed by the (Indian) government".

Earlier this year, India moved a number of surface-to-surface missiles near the border with Pakistan. However, India claimed that it did not deploy the weapons, which have a range of 250 kilometres.