KARACHI, Sept 26: Workers of the Labour Party of Pakistan on Wednesday staged a protest demonstration in front of the Karachi Press Club against the nomination of General Pervez Musharraf for the presidential election and asked the people to join hands for strengthening democratic institutions.

The protestors were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against military dictators, the military’s interference in politics and against the killing of lawyers. They said the re-election of Pervez Musharraf as president would further aggravate the crisis in the country, adding that the nation would not accept him any longer.

The speakers criticized the role of some political parties for supporting the military government and said that conspiracies were being hatched against the independence of the judiciary and for prolonging military rule.

They said only a strong democratic system could ensure the solution to the existing problems of the country. They also expressed their concern over the increasing prices of daily use commodities, unemployment, privatization of vital national organisations, and the deteriorating law and order situation.

The LPP leaders asked the government to pay Rs2 million to the heirs of every murdered lawyer as compensation.

The speakers included Nasir Mansoor, Comrade Abdul Salam, Shehla Rizwan, Feroz Khuro and Azra Perveen.