NEW YORK. March 16: Scores of Pakistanis staged a protest demonstration near the Pakistan consulate in New York on Saturday demanding immediate restoration of the pre-Nov 3 independent judiciary in Pakistan.

The protesters shouted slogans against President Musharraf for sacking of independent judiciary, gagging media, suspending civil liber-ties and fundamental human rights and detaining judges, lawyers and political opponents without any trial or charges.

They shouted slogans such as “Go Musharraf Go” and “No Musharraf No”.

Speakers at the rally condemned the detention of the Chief Justice and his family. They demanded that the United States should stop interfering in Pakistan’s internal affairs.

Similar protest rallies were held at Harvard University campus and in Washington DC.