PESHAWAR/ ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE/ KARACHI: Out of the tens of thousands who took to the streets across Pakistan to protest against the sacrilegious film the previous day, more than 130 people were sent on remand by anti-terrorism courts in Karachi and Lahore, while high officials in Peshawar contemplate a course of action against leaders of religious parties who participated in the protests, Express News reported on Saturday.
Police in Karachi arrested more than 100 people from Boat Basin, Kharadar, Nabi Baksh and Civil Lines on charges of violence, arson and damage to public and private property.
The arrested were presented in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) where the police requested remand for conducting further investigations so that those who escaped could be arrested. The ATC approved the request.
Routes sealed in Karachi were also reopened.
Similarly in Lahore, an ATC sent 36 people arrested from the US consulate premises to jail after police presented them in court today.
Press club routes sealed on account of the protests have not yet been reopened.
The Red Zone in Islamabad was once again secured with containers after reports of another huge rally, IG Islamabad told the media while on an inspection of the zone. He said that the policemen injured yesterday would be given special packages.
The rally in Islamabad, carried out by Minhaj alQuran, is currently underway and is protesting peacefully with no signs of violence.
More than 5,000 protesters marched towards the parliament in Islamabad, including hundreds of women, chanting "We love our Holy Prophet" and "Punishment for those who humiliated our Prophet".
Some 500 people from Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) staged a protest in front of the US consulate in the Lahore, chanting "The US deserves only one remedy - jihad, jihad".
The protests were peaceful, in contrast to the previous day's demonstrations.
In Peshawar, high-level police officials have reportedly put their heads together to decide a course of action to be taken against local leaders of religious parties that participated in the protests yesterday, which caused an estimate of Rs1 billion in damages.
Protesting the anti-Islam film yesterday in what was supposed to be peaceful protest, angry demonstrators trashed public and private property, set fire to cinemas and banks, damaged cars and trucks, causing a loss of billions to the country.
COMMENTS (8)
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Recover the loss from the persons involved in arson, looting, violence.
In the disguise of protest anti social elements grabbed the opportunity of looting the shops with vested interest. Religious leaders incited the crowd. Mob mentality does not understand logic/rationale and went on destroying to vent their anger.
But one thing is very clear that the protesters love the Prophet very much which is displayed on Ishq -e- Rasool Day by looting and destroying the state and or private properties worth more than Rs 1 billion.
Hope courts will not release them on 'lack of evidences'
any one not protesting peacfully should be dealt harshly....(i dont know in what conditions police can open fire)yesterdays scenes were horrific.pakistans image is now officially ruined beyond repair
Lack of appropriate legislation would once again lead to release of all people involved in vandalism.. and of course, there is political pressure on top of it
And now people will complain that the police are useless.