Former Pakistani minister Sher Afghan Niazi was beaten up by a large group of lawyers who detained him for nearly five hours in a hotel  in Lahore [Images], prompting a top advocate leading the legal fraternity's campaign against President Pervez Musharraf [Images] to quit his post.

Niazi, who was close to Musharraf during his stint as a federal minister, was surrounded by hundreds of lawyers when he went to Mozang Road this afternoon to meet an advocate.

The lawyers threw rotten eggs at Niazi, who evaded the crowd and took shelter in a local hotel. The lawyers, who shouted slogans against Musharraf, then besieged the hotel and did not allow Niazi to leave for nearly five hours.

Hearing of the incident, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Aitzaz Ahsan came to the spot and asked the lawyers to let Niazi leave the building. Despite Ahsan's efforts to defuse the situation, some persons in the mob manhandled Niazi when he emerged from the hotel.

Senior police officials were also present at the scene.

Niazi was finally driven away from the spot in an ambulance. The mob broke the windows of the ambulance and some persons manhandled Ahsan.

Shortly after this, Ahsan announced his resignation as president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, saying he was ashamed of the behaviour of the lawyers.

The legal fraternity has been spearheading protests against Musharraf and campaigning for the reinstatement of judges who were deposed during last year's emergency. Ahsan has been leading the lawyers' campaign against Musharraf.

President Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani condemned the manhandling of Niazi.

Describing the incident as an "act of hooliganism", Musharraf called on authorities to carry out an immediate inquiry so that the perpetrators of the act are identified and brought to justice.

Gillani said, "This sort of misconduct is not acceptable in any civilised society."

He directed the provincial government to inquire into the incident and apprehend those who were attempting to disrupt peace and harmony.

He also asked officials to ensure the welfare of Niazi and his family.

In a message, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari condemned the roughing up of by "elements masquerading as lawyers". He said, "The incident was shocking beyond measure and is condemned in the strongest terms."

He said it was intriguing that the incident occurred when a new coalition government was about to take over administration in the province.

Referring to the manhandling of former Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam [Images] Rahim in Karachi yesterday, Zardari said the PPP is "deeply concerned that some elements in Karachi and Lahore have tried to take the law into their hands".

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif too condemned the manhandling of Niazi.