Pakistani tax officials charged with murder

Police in Pakistan say that eleven tax officials have been arrested and charged with the murder of a businessman in the city of Faisalabad.

The businessman died in mysterious circumstances while being questioned by officials from the customs and sales tax department.

The BBC stringer in Lahore says there's been an overwhelming response to the death, with most of the shopping centres remaining closed after a one-day strike and protest rallies held on Tuesday galvanised most of the traders in the city. A general strike to protest at the government's plans to introduce a sales tax on goods has already been called for next Friday.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service