November 12, 2007	Monday	Ziqa’ad 01, 1428

TORONTO, Nov 11: About 70 people, mostly university students, protested here on Sunday against the imposition of state of emergency in Pakistan.

The protesters gathered in the Queen’s Park to call for an end to the state of emergency and restoration of Constitution in the country.

Organiser Somia Sadiq,

24, said the crowd was expressing support for the large number of students protesting in Pakistan.

The York University student said she hoped the protests sent a message to the Canadian government.

“It puts pressure on the Canadian government to suspend aid to Pakistan,” she said.

Protesters waved placards and shouted slogans, calling for Gen Pervez Musharraf to quit his post as army chief and the withdrawal of emergency.

Qasim Saddique, 24, a PhD student, said: the emergency in Pakistan was about crushing people who wanted freedom of expression and democracy, not fighting terrorism. “This emergency is only about staying in power,” he said.—PPI