Protests against anti-Islam film continue in Karachi, Lahore
The protest rally in Karachi was organised by the student organisation Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT), while the one in Lahore was organised by the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM).
The protesters in both the cities wanted to protest outside the US consulates. The police managed to stop the protesters in Karachi from reaching their destination.
In Lahore, however, MWM activists storm passed all barriers in their way and staged a sit-in outside the consulate's gate.
The police arrested around 60 protesters in Karachi, while around 12 people were injured.
Live updates have ended
7:43pm:
The protesters in Lahore are still present outside the US Consulate and are staging a sit-in there.
7:33pm:
According to Express News correspondent Rehan Khan, the residents of the Sultanabad area in Karachi have brought down two electricity poles.
There is no power in the area now.
The police continue to fire shells to disperse the residents who intend to protest outside the consulate.
The protesters, who were injured earlier, have been shifted to a local hospital in Karachi.
7:04pm:
In Karachi, the IJT activists have left the area but the residents are still protesting. They are throwing stones, burning tyres and trying to bring down an electricity pole.
The residents have also blocked the MT Road.
IJT leader Waqas Azmi, while speaking to The Express Tribune, said the United Nations should make a law against disrespecting the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Azmi added that the US should officially ban the anti-Islam film and get it removed from the US-based social media sites.
6:50pm:
The protesters are staging a sit-in outside the US consulate in Lahore.
6:44pm:
The MWM protesters in Lahore are trying to climb the gate of the consulate.
The protesters, including women and children, are chanting slogans against the US.
6:38pm:
The MWM rally in Lahore has reached the US consulate. A few activists have jumped over the barriers and are now protesting outside the consulate’s main gate.
The MWM protesters want to pass a resolution against the blasphemous film.
In Karachi, around 300 IJT activists are protesting outside the Karachi Press Club against the use of force on their rally and stopping them from reaching the US Consulate.
Around 104 protesters have been so far arrested by police. However, no case has been registered against them.
6:23pm:
According to Express News, the police have also baton-charged the protesters in order to stop them from moving ahead.
Express News correspondent Rehan Khan reported that around 12 people have been injured, while the police have arrested around 60 protesters.
6:11pm:
The police have entered the residential area in an attempt to arrest the agitating residents and the IJT activists. Two more protesters have been recently arrested.
Around 200 IJT activists and 500 residents are present in the area now.
The protesters have burnt tyres on the road.
5:45pm:
The residents of the Sultanabad area have turned violent and are throwing stones at the police personnel in response to the shells fired in the area.
Around 400 residents are out protesting on the road.
Police have arrested four of the locals for clashing with the security personnel.
4:54pm
The protesters have taken a break and are saying prayers in groups of 30, turn by turn.
4:42pm
The residents of the Sultanabad area have joined the protesters, while heavy shelling is being carried out by the police.
A cameraman from the ARY News channel named Zeeshan Marghoob was injured when a stone thrown by the protesters hit his face.
4:19pm
Protesters gathered at main the Sultanabad Road, about 500 metres away from the US Consulate, and entered the streets in the residential area.
Supporting the rally, residents of the area provided water and edibles to the protesters. The residents also gave them salt, used for reducing the effect of teargas.
The protesters dampened handkerchiefs and covered their mouths with it, so that the teargas used by the police does not affect them.
The protesters hurled stones at the police.
3:42pm
The protesters started their rally near the PIDC, while the police had set up barricades in front of the Sheraton Hotel and had deployed a heavy contingent of police force in order to bar the rally from moving ahead.
About 50 shells of teargas were thrown and aerial firing was carried out by the police in order to disperse the crowd, but the IJT protesters kept walking unabatedly. The activists also hurled stones at the police in retaliation and smashed the windshield of a police mobile parked nearby.
The police was able to round up about two dozen protesters, however, most of the agitators were able to escape from the police and continued their rally.
COMMENTS (78)
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We need a leader like Jinnah. Enough of these beasts.
Pakistan and Pakistani Government can do many things to record their protest like blockage of NETO supplies, by closing embassies of US & other Eurpean countries and by bycout of using foreign origin products. And many more................
@PakArmySoldier: I truly support your stance.... Mullahs are disease to our country...
MWM - the emerging religio-political force in Pakistan. Gained major support from their policy and stance against the Shia genocide across Pakistan. Wooah I really loved how the brave activists of MWM/ISO torn down US flag from the Karachi & Lahore consulates and replaced them with pro-Islam flags. These people seem to know where to protest. Rather burning the public property, they attack on stuff that really hurt the enemy.
@Laxman: why?
@Logic Europe: Muslims should learn to respect Jews, Hindus, Buddhist and Christian feelings too. Where was your voice when Taliban destroyed Buddha statues in Afghanistan? First practice what you preach.
@Salman Ahmed: I am sorry. I would not kill someone because they insulted my family. That person probably does not have much to live for anyways. I treat everyone with respect. If I am disrepected, then that person is out of my life. I DO NOT KILL THEM.
Every Prophet of God, and other religious figures, should be above all jokes and ridicule. The cause is very appropriate, but the way of showing our displeasure is not so. We are burning our own cities and assets, and destroying the nearly non-existent and unsound infrastructure of our own countries. By showing such anarchy we are actually fuelling the world sentiment that Islam is a violent religion, and that is the whole conspiracy all about, every few years something like this is instigated by someone in the west, and we go on a tangent of destruction. Our own clerics play along due to their own lack of common sense. If you really want to show your displeasure stop buying the western products, stop wearing the imported clothes, stop driving their cars. Their is a hadith which summarizes conduct of people of Islam as a believer should walk on this earth in a dignified manner and when an ignorant person addresses them he walks away saying 'peace'. There were people during the time of our beloved Prophet (saw) who used to disrespect him and persecute him, but he, nor any of his companions, ever retaliate against anyone. If we really respect him and love him so much then why cant we live according to his 'uswa' - are we actually even any where close to what are the bare minimum requirements of a muslim's life style? Some food for thought....
@Analyst from distance. No true muslim will dare to respond you.
@Aryabhat: Such an amazing mindset u have...wow... The only problem that i have is with the protests getting voilent.. Otherwise, its our right to record a peaceful protest against the hate mongers doing pathetic stuff in the name of freespeech... so grow up wil u
@Moosa Hassan: These protests are not peaceful. The people entered the sovereign premises of the U.S. Consulate and removed the flag and burned it. It is not hard to imagine what that would have done to a white American staffer. Didn't they kill the U.S. ambassdor to Libya? Alhamdolillah, I am a Muslim, but I am unable to understand how the U.S. or its government are responsible for the despicable act of its individual citizens? The U.S has nothing to gain out of this friction that would clear hurt its efforts on war on terror. Would you be able to justify the killing of Pakistanis in the U.S. or an attack on the Pakisani embassy in the Washington DC after Faisal Shehzad was captured following his failed attempt to blow up Times Sauare? Allah does not like injustice even when it is committed by pious Muslims against non-Muslims.
European should learn to respect muslims feelings
Recentpublic anger and large public demonstrations at US consulates around the worldclearly shows that US is also losing grounds in its friends countries. Nowafter Libya things are also going bad to worse in Egypt and Tunis. In severalcountries law enforcement agencies found it hard to keep away angry mob from USconsulates. Sentiments are already high in Muslim world against US after Iraqand Afghanistan wars. Now several incidents took place recent years furtherdown US credibility in Muslim world. Burning of Holy Quran in Bagram Airbase,Burning of Holy Quran by US priest Terry Jones, Pictures of US forces urinationon corpse of dead Afghans also damaged US credibility. Only year ago some US soldierswere showing body parts of dead Afghans as winning trophies. At the time when gulf is widening between Muslim and western world western countries are doingnothing to calm the situation. Only last year forty people lost their lives in agitations against US government after incident of burning of Holy Quranby US priest. Now pictures of dragging Muslim women’s by French policeand their arrest are also showing another negative impact of French government.Unfortunately no one responsible for these events is brought for justice andthings are going bad worse. True reality is that in name of independence offreedom of expressions we can’t permit any one to spread hate andcreate division among different religions. Unfortunately in name of freedom ofexpression several hated personalities are getting fame and popularity in USand other countries. Hated personalities like Salman Rushdi, Tasleema Nasreen,Moli Nauras and Terrry Jones are getting funds and other support to carry outtheir hate agenda.
I am happy that you liberal fascist are hardly 0.0000000001% of our society. Keep saying/writing whatever you like sitting in your air conditioned living rooms. People who love the Prophet (P.B.U.H) will record their protest either way.
burning a US flag while wearing an american baseball cap worn backwards carries its own orgasm
Some analyst opine that Pakistan is moving towards stone-age but conditions were much better in those times since there was no fanaticism during that period.
Why are we Muslims giving more publicity to those losers who had no success in their careers. The video has already been clicked more than 6 million times in youtube.And what will we achieve at the end, destroying more public property,stop poor people from earning bread for their kids for the day or so. Will these protests make them off load the video from YouTube and apologise ? Don't think so.. What will these people do if a video appears desecrating Shia or Sunni beliefs? Will have to fight each other ? Take my advise just ignore these sort of rubbish and we will do a great job for Islam.
@Salman Ahmed
I cannot speak for France and someone else has answered that. You pointed out specific hate crimes. Here in the US, we have very strict laws against hate crimes based on religion, amongst other things. The FBI gets involved and such crimes are solved on an urgent basis. The punishment is also much more stringent. Note the recent shooting at a Sikh Temple as an example. A police officer risked his life in that case and the investigation made sure that no other accomplice was involved. It doesn't matter what your religion is, your ethnicity or your national origin is....everyone is accorded the same protection under the law. Can you say the same?
Try burning a Bible in public. You will see that while people may condemn it, no one here will riot or destroy public property. It will be taken for an immature and foolish act and not a threat to Christianity.
@gp65: Thanks for correction.
They will be the first to run at the chance of a green card. Hypocrisy at its best
@Jat: As an Indian I also felt sad on reading the news of beheading of Pakistanis soldiers which is the most inhuman act but none of the religious organisations even condemned the same.
@ Salman Ahmed,
France banned veil because it hides ones face. Hiding your face equals hiding your identity which is a security matter. Hope you understand!!
Also can you tell us why Muslim women want to hide their face/ identity?
@Muhammad: In Pakistan lawyers will refuse to prosecute him and consider him as their hero , and by the way the very next day peaceful Muslims will break into the prison and take him to north waziristan. If the US kill him through a drone strike then imran khan will foul mouth the US and rationalize the behavior of killers
@Salman Ahmed: You should wake up and realize that you cant go around killing people if they insult you or whoever you believe as your prophet. In a civilized country, you will go to jail. Control your hormones and your anger.
These people have reduced a great faith to a fragile religion!
@Aryabhat: Yeah.. Protests are more violent countries where there is greater dissent against USA.
@ Abdullah,
Than how Muslims will fly to Mecca/ Medina for hajj?..
@Deepwater I would love to reply to rest of your concerns. But before that give me an answer, As western societies portray themselves and their media keeps on telling the world that in Western Societies everyone has freedom to do whatever they want to do, and everyone can practice their religion. If this is the case, than why were Muslim women not allowed to wear veil in France and several other countries? Why was a Muslim woman killed just because she was wearing veil?
With due respect, it is not our society which is hypocritical. But WESTERN societies are based on hypocritical beliefs and assumptions.
@ Salman Ahmad
If you think this movie is an insult to Muslims/ Islam why don't you refute the acts shown in the movie first. Can you prove them wrong?
@Aarvey,india: yes they are doing...JF-18 thuder from china..not like you people relying on old soviet MUG fighters
@PakArmySoldier: Very well said. And the funny thing is when we Indians point out this double-faced nature of Mullahs and Imran Khan, the moderators here refuse to publish the same.
Not even a single dharna, strike or protest against the beheading of Pakistani soldiers.
so breaking electricity poles and harming your men and causing problems to locals is soo going to help in removing such videos? why don't people act normally
@Abdullah: Start with your f 16 fighters. Try telling your brave PAF pilots this.
@jay verma: "Here the maker of the film, originally from Egypt, has more chances to be a Muslim. "
We do know that he is a COptic Christian not a Muslim. Rest of your post is valid ofcourse.
Also totally unclear how and why Israel and Jews are dragged into this controversy by the religious parties when they have nothing to do with this issue.
Looks like a regime change in Washington is coming soon. Mormon & Neocon's Romney (buddy of Netanyahu from Boston Consulting Group) will be replacing Globalist's Obama with reason he can't control these meddling Muslims. Looks like history repeating itself when Carter was replaced with Reagan.
@alicia: Let not these expose themselves of their true nature to those who respect them and treat them with all humanness
protest must be continued unless until responsible is prosecuted.
I have said it before and I'll reiterate: Mullahs present an existential threat to Pakistan. They are sympathetic to the enemies of Pakistan. Where is this outrage when Taliban beheads our troops?
Breaking News: US has contacted Interpol like our interior minister did, to complain that their feelings are hurt to see their flags being stepped on and burnt. They have also asked UN to have an international blasphemy law to ban the US flag burning.
@Salman Ahmed
No one has the right to take a life except in self defense in the strictest sense of the world. Period. I hope your religion also teaches you that. As far as someone insulting your faith is concerned - you can choose to ignore it, can't you? Is your belief in your faith dependent upon someone else's approval or acceptance? If so, it must not be much of a faith. Does your religion get lesser if someone insults it? Or are you secure in its tenets and teachings so you can carry on without being ruffled. The Western Nations do not hate your faith but many do hate the hypocritical foundation of your societies and the misuse of faith to brainwash the youth. You guys don't have two nickels to rub together yet waste your time on such trivial matters. This film would have been completely ignored had these violent protests not put a spotlight on it. As far as Americans being anti-Muslim, people of all faith and Muslims of all sects can practice their beliefs here without fear. Is that true in your society? Learn to keep your faith close to your heart and not wear it on your sleeve. It will make for a better world someday.
If the prophet was peaceful then why all the violence in the name of the prophet?
the darkness of ignorance
Questions to Muslims from a distant observer: Do you all think that your prophet would be embarrassed and God angry with the kind of job he did as a prophet after he sees his followers behave like this OR will your prophet be happy with the behavior of killing innocent people and burning property and God happy with him about how he did his job ? This is a genuine question, I am curious what Muslims have to say about it.
Protesting that Islam is religion of peace today, but not a word when your ever flowing fountain of hatred results in Ahmadi killings, Shia killings, sectarian violence and complete hatred for whoever disagrees with your views.
You want world to believe that this film is a product of a diseased mind and has nothing to do with real Islam? Prove it. Show by example what Islam really reaches because so far you've done nothing but damage global image of Islam through your own twisted hateful conducts. Compared to you, this film has done nil damage.
boycott USA products
Rather than violence shouldn't Muslim scholars be refuting the contents against Islam shown in the movie.
Nobody got killed is a good news from Pakistan.
@Jihad Bil-Qalam: The burning of national resources is not due to the film anger. It is just due to face our own people (govt and forces) opposition to even record a peaceful protest in related embassies. Isn't it?
@Truth Hurts: You are right 100%. When a pakistani citizen is caught for terrorism, they would not first accept the fact, would put it on Non-actors. Here the maker of the film, originally from Egypt, has more chances to be a Muslim. And because he used to live in USA, all the Americans have to pay for this Why?
Police unnecessarily used tear gas that was not a huge or violent protest I was there at 03:00 PM near PIDC !!
The film was made by an individual criminal and its clips are running on youtube. If anyone has some sanity left in Pakistan, they should try to put some pressure on youtube by writing/peaceful protests to them so the clips be removed just like the actual film was removed. What's good in attacking American embassies and create violence on streets unless the mullahs are working on their own agendas?
Does this mean that everytime someone posts a short clip filled with filth about Islam, we will burn our properties and national resources? It appears that now on hurting Muslims and Pakistan would be a no-brainer? Even a brain dead can do that.
We are mad at USA and the film makers.
Let's destroy police vans and street lights
We are followers a peaceful religion.
Let's kill the blasphemers, and diplomats
I know that the film maker is kind of wrong when he takes advantage of 'freedom of speech' thing. However, what good is burning down your own cities, fighting your very own police, throwing stones etc ? It brings nothing but shame to an already tarnished image of the country. The uneducated lot needs to get their act together and use constructive ways of responding, like the one used in UK. These fools suffer from sheep mentality thinking burning a flag will do any good.
Protest is the right of civilians but peaceful protest without burning and damaging public/private properties. Why religious leaders who give sermons to the masses to keep peaceful and stick to Islamic values but personally cannot do this!!!!!!
I do hope no one dies of the Holy US flag this time.
@alicia, I can have given you example of Azerbaijan, Kyrgystan and a few more Muslim nations with unemployemt/poverty similar to Pakistan but no violence! Poverty and unemployment as excuse for vandalising public property is just that - an excuse.
WHY should anyone be killed for blocking Google in Pakistan or Google be blocked? In Pakistan - a nation full of Pious Muslims - I am sure no one would try to find such hate material on Google!
And add... would they be punished under blasphemy law?
@alicia: What do you mean "actually works" ? They just launched a Babur NK missile against the film producer. But since it is "stealth tech" you won't be able to hear or read about the damage it has caused. shhhh...
@Aryabhat people in these countries have actual jobs, recreational activities. Whereas in PK you know with a 25% unemployment rate and a low university rate people especially young boys have nothing to do. This is as much a religious activity for them as it is for recreation. And come to think of it google has blocked the video in Malaysia whereas in Pakistan we have killed two people and got nothing.
Why can these people do something effective that actually works?
Yes, because everything that goes wrong in Pakistan is the fault of the United States.
In case that was too subtle for some readers, that was sarcasm
No real protests in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia.......
Hugh protests at Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan........
I guess Pakistan is trying desperately to join the second group of broken and poor nations!
Good work guys! You represent the nation!
bunch of losers !
thousands? where are they?
this just shows that out media hypes up everything until it burst wide open...ET please grow up!!
i was at PIDC at the time. yes there was tear gas and stone throwing but the crowd was 100 people max.