1.   Opponents had called strikes and marches in recent months to protest what they called runaway corruption and economic mismanagement under Ms. Bhutto.

2.   A tough anti-corruption law was passed after Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was sacked in November on charges of runaway corruption.

3.   At the time she also was accused of runaway corruption and incompetence.

4.   Her political opponents accuse her government of runaway corruption, incompetence and mismanagement.

5.   In November, President Farooq Leghari dismissed her government, charging runaway corruption and economic incompetence had driven the country to the brink of ruin.

6.   Leghari has been seeking a law that would attempt to clean up Pakistani politics, which have been mired in accusations of runaway corruption.

7.   Ms. Bhutto was dismissed on charges of runaway corruption and economic ineptitude.

8.   Sharif, however, said the strike was a peaceful demonstration by the opposition to show its frustration both with the budget and with what it called runaway corruption.

9.   The former administration of Benazir Bhutto was dismissed last November on charges of runaway corruption and economic mismanagement.

10.   The president cited runaway corruption as one of the reasons for using his constitutional power to dismiss her government.