Justice Served: Pakistan party demands Zardari resignation

Pakistan's main opposition has urged President Asif Zardari to resign after the Supreme Court declared an amnesty against corruption charges illegal.

The controversial law granting senior politicians amnesty was brought in by ex-President Pervez Musharraf. The court's move opens the way to possible prosecution for Mr Zardari's political allies, although he is still protected by presidential immunity.

Mr Zardari faces several pending court cases against him in Pakistan.

Before taking office, he spent years in jail after being convicted on corruption charges he says were politically motivated.

BBC correspondents say that, despite the pressure on government figures to quit, there are no signs that this is likely to happen.

Pakistani newspapers have welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to annul the amnesty.

"Zardari: an accused president," a front page headline in The News said.

The law was introduced by Mr Musharraf in order to allow Mr Zardari's late wife, Benazir Bhutto, to return to the country and stand for office, with the aim of a possible power-sharing deal with Mr Musharraf.

She returned to Pakistan from abroad after the so-called National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) was signed into law, but was assassinated soon after.

The Supreme Court has called for all these cases to be re-opened, with hundreds of senior politicians and civilian bureaucrats now facing criminal and corruption charges.

Pakistan is often ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world by anti-graft campaigners.

According to a listing produced by global watchdog Transparency International, it came 40th out of 180 countries surveyed.