Zardari guarded by ‘human shield’ at press conference to prevent shoe attack

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari was guarded by a ‘human shield’ during his joint press conference with visiting US Senator John Kerry to prevent any ’shoe rocket’ being hurled at him.

Zardari, who visited the flood affected areas with Kerry, hosted the joint press conference at the Chaklala Airbase here during which security officials formed a ‘human shield’ to prevent the president from facing any possible embarrassment.

Before the press conference started, security personnel installed a fence in the hall to keep journalists at a distance. They stood by the fence and watched each and every movement of the journalists, The Dawn reports.

Insiders said that the human shield was organised on the suggestion of US officials.

Zardari was attacked by an unidentified man when he hurled shoes at the President while he was addressing a rally organised by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) during his England visit earlier this month.

In February last year, a German student, Martin Jahnke, hurled a shoe at Chinese premier Wen Jiabao during his visit to Cambridge University in Britain.

Jahnke tried to copy Iraqi TV reporter, Muntazer al-Zaidi, who threw shoes at former US President George W Bush during his Baghdad visit in December, 2008, and was arrested for his act. (ANI)