In Islamabad‚ demonstrators turned violent and tried to force their entry into diplomatic enclave.
Protests against the blasphemous film produced by an American continued across the country on Thursday. In Islamabad‚ demonstrators turned violent and tried to force their entry into the diplomatic enclave. They set some police kiosks on fire and pelted police with stones. Police used teargas and baton charge to disperse demonstrations. Several protestors and policemen were injured in the incident. The protest continued for about four hours and after negotiations between the administration and Ulema‚ protestors withdrew from the scene and the police released those detained during violence. Meanwhile‚ army has been called in for security of the diplomatic enclave and red zone in the Federal Capital. Protest rallies were also taken out in big cities including Karachi‚ Lahore‚ Peshawar and Quetta. In Karachi‚ students and various religious and traders organisations took out rallies against the film maker. In Peshawar‚ various religious‚ political‚ trade and student organisations held protest demonstrations in front of Press club and US consulate. PPP organised a public rally which started from Hashtnagri and culminated at Qissa Khawani Bazaar. Addressing the rally‚ speakers strongly condemned the blasphemous movie. Violent protesters in Quetta‚ set on fire a cinema house.
