NEW YORK, Dec 2: Scores of students and political activists held a protest rally in front of the United Nations on Saturday afternoon demanding President Musharraf’s resignation.

The demonstrators were carrying placards protesting emergency, calling for release of all political prisoners and restoration of Constitution.

Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan and Bushra Aitzaz, wife of jailed Supreme Court lawyers’ leader, spoke to the demonstrators by telephone from Pakistan. Imran Khan criticised Pakistan People’s Party leader Benazir Bhutto for her decision to participate in the general elections, saying “it will be the biggest mistake she ever makes”.

He reminded Ms Bhutto that the Supreme Court judges sacked by President Musharraf were still under house arrest and that until they were reinstated no political party should participate in elections.

He called upon political parties to rally to the demand that all political prisoners were released and the sacked judges restored to the bench.

Ms Bushra Aitzaz said her husband, the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, was still under house arrest.