Pakistanis gather to protest presidential candidate Zardari

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-05-2008 11:08

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Pakistan's parliament on Thursday. They're demonstrating against the leading candidate in this weekend's presidential elections.

Lawyers tear down a poster of Asif Ali  Zardari, the widower of Benazir Bhutto,  who will run for President in the next  elections, during a protest for the  restoration of deposed judges in Islamabad  August 28, 2008.REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood

The demonstrators were mostly lawyers from bar associations around the country.

Their protest was aimed at presidential hopeful Asif Ali Zardari, leader of the ruling Pakistan People's Party and widower of slain ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

The lawyers are unhappy that Zardari has failed to honor promises to restore judges sacked by former President General Pervez Musharraf.

Sardar Asmatullah, President Rawalpindi Bar Association, said, "The presidential election is the day after tomorrow but it should be on the mind of everyone who is opposing the restoration of the non-functioning judiciary that they should not put this country in the hot water."

The protests turned into scuffles with police as the lawyers moved towards the country's Supreme Court.

Police moved in with batons to stop the crowd entering the court grounds.

At least one lawyer was injured.

Last month, Zardari and the leader of opposition party, Nawaz Sharif, forced Musharraf to quit the presidency.

Sharif left the coalition soon after, over disputes about who should succeed Musharraf and how to restore judges sacked by Musharraf last year.

Editor:Du Xiaodan