Pakistan cleric gives government ultimatum

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - An influential Pakistani cleric gave the government a one-day ultimatum early on Tuesday to dissolve parliament and provincial assemblies to make way for a caretaker administration, as he addressed a mass protest rally in Islamabad.

Tahir-ul Qadri was chauffeur-driven in a sleek black car and showered with pink rose petals while his vehicle inched its way towards a stage on one of the main thoroughfares in Islamabad, following a 38-hour march from the eastern city of Lahore.

"Morally, your government and your assemblies have ended tonight," he told the crowd from behind a transparent bullet-proof box erected around a podium, after he had been bustled up the steps by handlers holding up what appeared to be bullet-proof shields.

"I will give you (the government) a deadline until tomorrow to dissolve the federal parliament and provincial assemblies. After that, the people's assembly here will take their own decision," he added.