A peaceful protest turned violent, as the police retaliated against the protesters by firing tear-gas shells, aerial firing and baton charge to disperse the large crowd.
Activists were adamant on entering the consulate building via the central gate and burn the American flag there.
According to initial reports, a few protestors were also armed and had fired at the police.
At least two activists were reported injured.
Armored vehicles had to be deployed, shortly, to the consulate to prevent protesters from getting into the consulate.
"We used tear gas shells and lobbed gas grenades because the protesters were trying to come closer to the sensitive area," senior police officer Imtiaz Khan told AFP.
Two Frontier Constabulary (FC) check posts had been setup outside the central gate as well as a large contingent of policemen were deployed in the area, including Saddar University road and around the consulate.
Khan said that more than 1,000 police were on hand to block the road to the US consulate.
The protest call was announced two days back by Shabab-e-Milli (youth wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami), Islami Jamiat Talaba and MWM, with members gathered from the city and surrounding areas as well.
However, protesters included activists of other political and religious parties as well.
Addressing the crowd, local JI leader Shabbir Ahmed lashed out at the United States, demanding the Pakistani government expel the American ambassador and close its missions in Pakistan.
"We are ready to sacrifice our lives to uphold the dignity of our Prophet," he said.
Regarding the staffers present in the consulate, according to sources most of them had been shifted to Islamabad citing security reasons, however a few local staffers, related to technical jobs, and consulate security personnel were still present in the consulate.
COMMENTS (26)
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@VINOD: Because it is and that is all they have as most live in the 6th century
while pakistanis are leaving no stone unturned to burn their own country.
let's have a look at how libyans are behaving:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jtes/19-more-photos-of-libyans-apologizing-for-american
@Hasan US laws do not permit banning of that movie, there are certain freedoms that are guranteed by the US Constitution (unlike Pakistan), especially the Bill of Rights that does not allow banning of any Movie that does not directly incite violence and a few other stipulations. Is the Movie illegal? No, Is the Movie created in bad taste? Yes
Any Muslim US Citizen can petition the courts to see if they will ban it! by the way the movie was made by an Egyptian with private funds, at no point in time was the US Government involved with this and frankly nor do they have the time with this being an election year.
Oh no...So no pakistani is going to USA for PR or higher study?Those who are shouting today will send their kids to USA tomorrow.Whole muslim world doesn't have this much courage to do this .
@Hassan: exactly my point, why people are protesting here then/? Do you think US worries if we burn and destroy our own infrastructure?
Why were the protestors firing at the police? Are the police walas and their vans that American film-maker?
On Tv just saw someone holding a placard that said "Behead those who say muslims are violent" The irony.
@Pakistani Hindu The film was released in US and US government has refused to put a ban on it or even register a case against those involved.
Ahmed : It is not my thinking capabilities that are pathetic. It is the queue at the US/UK/Australia visa counters to migrate to the west while blaming them for everything that is pathetic. Why arent the muslims in US not going back to Pakistan if they love their god so much.?
@vasan:
Shame on you for your pathetic thinking capabilities.
“Well, if they think it’s bad and against their values, why didn’t they stop it or punish those who produced it?” The standard response is that we Americans don’t suppress or penalize ideas we regard as wrong and even dangerous; in accordance with the First Amendment, we tolerate them and allow them to present themselves for possible purchase in the marketplace of ideas.
But that means that protecting the marketplace by refusing to set limits on what can enter it is the highest value we affirm, and we affirm it no matter what truths might be vilified and what falsehoods might get themselves accepted. We have decided that the potential unhappy consequences of a strong free speech regime must be tolerated because the principle is more important than preventing any harm it might permit. We should not be surprised, however, if others in the world — most others, in fact — disagree, not because they are blind and ignorant but because they worship God and truth rather than the First Amendment, which not only keeps God and truth at arm’s length but regards them with a deep suspicion.
Destroy more property and lives. The world least cares.
@21st century: In Pakistan everything is "ulta-pulta". The peaceful people are the most violent.
Stop calling them activists. They are rioters and saboteurs.
I stongly condemn the movie and the movie makers. However, this is not the Islamic way to protest and burn our own assets and create unrest and cause trouble to all, as our Holy Prophet (PBUH) has set examples himself as how to treat such things.
@Jat: destroying Buddha means nothing to these Muslims, its just a silly movie that no one has seen ,or had seen before they started to show their peaceful nature, that they care about
look at the picture and you will observe the transparent journalism,,,,,,,,,,,grow up journalists!!!!!!!!! am working less than half a mile from the area you mentioned and its quiet an peaceful here !
"A peaceful protest turned violent, as the police retaliated against the protesters by firing tear-gas shells, aerial firing and baton charge to disperse the large crowd. According to initial reports, a few protestors were also armed and had fired at the police"
How can you in one line say that a "peaceful protest" and then say that protesters were armed and had fired at the police?.
Someone please take all these nice people on a free tour to Bamiyan in Afghanistan. Some re-education is required.
It's time to US to shut down all its consulates and embassies.. why should they stick on when there is lot of public outcry against them...
The film was made by a guy from Egypt... Oh wait, they don't care, they just want to throw rocks at the police and US consulate.! !
If the US high commission at Peshawar announces that Green card counter is open to all today, the brick bats will become bouquets and protestors will become potential migrants.