UK protest over Pakistan crisis

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The demonstrators will protest outside Number 10 Downing Street about the recently-imposed state of emergency in the country.

Protesters will include Jemima Khan, the ex-wife of former Pakistani cricket star Imran Khan who later went into politics by founding the Movement for Justice Party.

Khan, like several other leading politicians including former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, has been under house arrest in recent days since the state of emergency was announced.

His ex-wife said: "Unlike my friends in Pakistan, many of whom are now in jail, we have the privilege in the UK - living in a democracy - of being allowed to protest.

"That's why I am helping to organise the demonstration outside Downing Street to call on the British Government to pressurise General Musharraf immediately to restore democracy, to end the state of emergency and to release all political prisoners and restore the judiciary."

She added: "This is not about Musharraf's battle against extremists or about the War on Terror. This is about a desperately unpopular dictator clinging to power.

"We are calling for the UK Government to support the people of Pakistan in their struggle for freedom."

The Labour MP for Glasgow Central, Mohammad Sarwar, will also be at the protest. He said: "I am deeply concerned at the declaration of the state of emergency in Pakistan and the suspension of the constitution. I believe that the best way to tackle extremism and terrorism is through democracy."

President Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule last Saturday, claiming it was necessary because of threats against the nation. Since then, thousands of people including lawyers and activists from secular opposition parties, have been arrested.