London: If defending his foreign trip when Pakistan was reeling under worst floods in 80 years was not enough for the country’s president Asif Ali Zardari, he had to also save himself from a ‘shoe attack’ at a public meeting in Birmingham on Saturday.
An unidentified elderly man hurled both his shoes on Zardari as the visiting Pakistani premier was addressing a gathering in the British town, the UK Telegraph reported on Sunday.
The shoes missed him by a close range.
The reason for the attack was not clear as the man was taken away by security personnel.
Zardari has been facing criticism back home for going ahead with his foreign trip even as thousands were killed in worst floods in Pakistan in 80 years.
He had, however, defended his visits and said it had helped draw more international attention, which could result in more aid, to the devastation in the South Asian country.
With the ‘shoe attack’, Zardari has entered the dubious league of visiting dignitaries who had faced such protests during foreign trips.
Former US president George W Bush was hurled a shoe by an Iraqi reporter during his visit to that country, while Chinese premier Wen Jiabao also had to face similar protest during his visit to Cambridge University in UK.