London/Islamabad, Aug 8: Instead of cheers, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari was greeted with shoes and shouts of 'Mr ten per cent' during a rally of the Pakistan People's Party at Birmingham.
 However, Zardari's aides insisted that no such incident had occurred during his visit to Britain.
 The Geo News channel and newspapers of the Jang media group reported that a 60-year-old Shamim Khan threw the shoes at Zardari last evening in protest against the resident's meeting with Premier British David Cameron.
 Cameron had triggered a storm in Pakistan by saying that Pakistan had links with groups that promoted export of terror to Afghanistan and India.
 But, the shoes failed to hit Zardari and the protester was escorted out of the venue, where the President was addressing a Pakistan People's Party (PPP) convention, by security guards, the reports  said.
 British security took away Khan, who shouted slogans,' The News' daily reported.
 Khan told Geo News that he threw the shoes in protest against Zardari's meeting with Cameron.
 Compelled by prospects of renewed fury back home if Bilawal Bhutto's political career was launched in Birmingham amidst unprecedented floods, the plan was dropped even though placards at the Birmingham venue sought to welcome 21-year-old Bilawal.
 Outside the venue, protesters shouted slogans held placards stating 'Save Pakistan, Oust Zardari'.
 Bilawal, who sought to rubbish reports that he would address the Birmingham rally, confined himself to London where he launched a flood relief donation centre at the Pakistan high commission.
 The PPP activist Khadeer Arif, who was one of a number of people who walked out in protest at the Birmingham rally, said there was simply no need for the President to visit Britain while there are people dying back home.
 He told BBC: "You wouldn't see Barack Obama leaving America, you wouldn't see at the time of 7/7 Tony Blair wandering around Europe.
 The reality is simple; he was here for his family needs, not for the people of Pakistan."
 Zardari told the audience: "You are my family", as the gathering prayed collectively for the late Benazir Bhutto.
 People had traveled from nearby areas to see Zardari, and many returned satisfied.
 A media report also quoted Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira as saying that an investigation will be conducted to determine how and why the man was invited to the gathering for which special invitation cards had been selectively issued by the Pakistan High Commission in London. The incident inside the hall coincided with a protest outside the venue, where hundreds of flag-waving protesters carried banners and shouted slogans against Zardari's visit to Britain.
 The President has been criticized for traveling abroad at a time when Pakistan has been hit by the worst floods in 80 years that have affected over 12 million people.
 Zardari's speech at the convention was only covered by state-run PTV, which did not beam any footage showing anyone throwing shoes at the President.
 Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar too denied the incident, saying it would have been seen by the people sitting in the hall if it had occurred.
 "I confirm through the media that no such incident occurred during the speech of President Asif Ali Zardari," he said.
 The media could have openly reported the matter if it had any proof about it, Babar said.
 Asked about the Information Minister's statement on the incident, Babar said the minister has already clarified and "he should not be misquoted".
 The President completed his speech in 45 minutes and it was "vigorously hailed by the PPP workers sitting in the hall," Babar said.
 The Jang group also claimed that Geo News channel was blocked out in parts of the country for airing the news of the man "hurling shoes" at the President.
 It also claimed that the group's English and Urdu newspapers were stolen by unidentified persons early this morning and burnt.
 According to the media here, Zardari is the second world leader to face a 'shoe attack' in Britain after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
 In February last year, a student at Britain's prestigious Cambridge university had thrown a shoe at Wen.
 On December 14, 2008, an Iraqi journalist hurled shoes at then US President George W Bush in Baghdad.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 8 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST