'I am proud of what I did': Protester who threw shoes at Pakistan president remains unrepentant



Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari leaves the rally in Birmingham last night during which a protester threw his shoes at him

A protester who threw his shoes at the Pakistan president as he gave a speech in Birmingham last night said he was proud of his actions.



Sardar Mohammed Shamim Khan, 57, said Asif Ali Zardari's speech had incensed him so much that he spontaneously decided to unlace his size 10 leather shoes and hurl them at the bewildered Pakistani leader.



Police quickly led father-of-four Mr Shamim away before cautioning and later releasing him.

An unrepentant Mr Khan, from Coventry, West Midlands, last night said: 'I could feel the anger brewing up inside me as Zardari talked about the floods in Pakistan.



'I thought we have a crisis back at home and all he can do is take a trip around Europe while his own people are suffering.'



Mr Khan managed to sneak into the invite-only political rally organised by the UK branch of Zardari's Pakistan People's Party.



More than 2,000 people attended the rally at Birmingham's International Convention Centre while hundreds more protested outside.

Mr Khan, who was sat about 20 metres away from the President, said: 'I thought his speech was insulting to my people who are dying because of Zardari's government.



'He is a disgrace and I had to let my feelings be known in a way he would remember.'

Mr Khan said he shouted: 'Allah is the only one who can give and take lives' as he threw the shoes which failed to hit the president.

One shoe narrowly missed him while the other was deflected away by a security guard.



The drama was captured on Pakistani cable TV channel PTV which was live streaming the event.



But the shoe-throwing incident was edited out and party officials tried to downplay the incident.



Sardar Mohammed Shamim Khan managed to sneak into the invite-only rally in Birmingham, organised by the UK branch of Zardari's Pakistan People's Party

Mr Khan said: 'I am proud of what I did and feel all my prayers have been answered



'He should go back to Pakistan immediately and apologise for his lack of sympathy. Then he should resign.'



The Pakistani president addressed thousands of his political party faithful at a packed rally in the city.



Mr Zardari began his address with a prayer for his murdered wife Benazir Bhutto who he said would have been proud of the progress Pakistan was making on the world stage.



Wearing a black jacket and speaking in his native Urdu he said: 'She believed in democracy and dialogue and we will not falter from that even if it sometimes causes misunderstandings.'



Mr Zardari was referring to Prime Minister David Cameron's recent comments accusing Pakistan of 'exporting terror.'



He thanked British-based Pakistani civic leaders for their help in correcting Mr Cameron's remarks adding: 'Benazir Bhutto was killed because of her mindset.



Protesters gathered outside included Pakistani Christians, furious at Pakistan's discriminatory blasphemy laws, and Kashmiri independence groups

'We are now fighting against the opposite mindset that thinks killing in the name of religion is the answer.'

The rally at Birmingham's International Convention Centre was organised by the British branch of Mr Zardari's Pakistan People's Party, and more than 2,000 people turned up for the event.



Speakers however, including the president himself, struggled to be heard and were constantly interrupted by exuberant supporters waving flags and chanting: 'Long Live Bhutto. She is alive.'



Zardari's son and heir apparent Oxford-educated Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was expected to address the rally but his father said he was in London where he was setting up a relief fund to help victims of the recent floods in north west Pakistan.



Instead Mr Zaradari's daughter Asifa sat by her father's side, occasionally raising a clenched fist a she joined in with the sloganeering.

Most of Mr Zaradari's speech was spent thanking his party members and supporters in the UK and he made constant references to Benazir Bhutto.



Mr Zardari smiles as he is driven away from the rally last night

He said: 'The day she died I heard a voice in my heart and it was her telling me that Pakistan should not suffer because of her death.

'The dictator and president at the time Pervez Musharref thought her death would be the death of the party but that can never happen.



'Instead his supporters are the ones standing outside shouting slogans while we are inside.'



Mr Zaradri was referring to the hundreds of protesters who had gathered outside the ICC incensed that the president was not at home co-coordinating the flood relief efforts.



Other demonstrators were more vitriolic with one group of young British-Pakistanis calling themselves Sharia For Pakistan.



Its spokesman, who gave his name as Abu Jihad, said Zardari was an apostate which is punishable by death according to Sharia law.



'Zardari is evil and his government is a puppet of the West. We are against any democratic laws because they are not the laws of God.



Mr Cameron stands outside Chequers last week with Mr Zardari (2nd right) and his children Asifa Bhutto Zardari (left) and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (2nd left)

'People like Zardari would not be tolerated under an Islamic system and his apostasy would be met with death.'



His views were echoed by members of Islamist organisation Hizb Ut Tahrir who made up the largest and most vocal contingent of protesters.



Spokesman Taji Mustafa said it was a disgrace that the president was 'holidaying' while his country was suffering.

He said: 'This shows complete disdain for his people. He has come to this country despite the UK Prime Minister's comments about Pakistan exporting terror.



'That was like being slapped in the face. Instead of slapping Cameron's back Zaradari has come to kiss Cameron's hand.'



Other groups gathered outside included Pakistani Christians, furious at Pakistan's discriminatory blasphemy laws and Kashmiri independence group as well as members of Pakistani cricket legend Imran Khan's Pakistan Movement for Justice party.



They were carrying placards denouncing Zardari as 'King of Thieves' and 'King of Corruption.'



Armed police were joined by hundreds of officers who ensured the event passed off without any further trouble despite the highly charged atmosphere.

