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19 dead in anti-Islam film riots in Pakistan
Friday September 21, 2012 11:31:26 PM,
IANS
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Islamabad: As many as
19 people were killed and over 100 injured after protests against
the anti-Islam US film turned violent in several cities across
Pakistan Friday, Geo News reported.
Islamabad summoned a US diplomat to lodge an official protest
while Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said freedom of expression
must not be used to insult religions.
The Pakistani government had called for peaceful protest and
declared Friday as a national holiday to facilitate the people to
join the protest.
Demonstrations were staged across Pakistan Friday against a
YouTube video "Innocence of Muslims", as the country observed
Youm-e-Ishq-e-Rasool (Love of Prophet Mohammad day). The video has
already triggered angry protests around the world.
Clashes between police and protesters were reported in several
areas of Islamabad, as demonstrators entered the red zone and
proceeded towards the US consulate. Police used tear gas to deter
them.
Security was tightened and large contingents of police and Rangers
were deployed across the city. The army was also put on alert.
In the port city of Karachi, five people died after clashes broke
out. Protesters burnt five cinemas, several shops and vehicles
were also destroyed on MA Jinnah Road. During the violence, two
banks were set ablaze and three police vans were burnt.
The protesters also tried to march towards the US consulate,
throwing stones at the police.
Hospital sources put the figure at 12 and over 110 being injured
in the protests.
In Lahore, protesters and police clashed in several areas of the
city. The protests intensified near the US consulate in the city.
Police used tear gas shelling and aerial firing to disperse the
protesters.
Four more died in Peshawar. Several people were injured. Agitated
demonstrators set fire to two cinemas while two people including
an employee of a private TV channel were killed during a firing
incident on GT Road. The Chamber of Commerce was also ransacked.
Authorities used shipping containers to block roads leading to the
US consulate, the offices of Western aid organisations and other
key buildings in the city.
Violence was also witnessed in Rawalpindi, as demonstrators took
to the roads leading to Islamabad and pelted cars and police with
stones. They destroyed a CNG station. Besides, two police vans and
check-posts were also set on fire.
A day earlier, huge crowds had attempted to storm Islamabad's
diplomatic enclave.
On Friday, US Charge D'Affaires Richard Hoagland in Islamabad was
summoned to the foreign ministry.
He was told "this was an attack on 1.5 billion Muslims and a
premeditated and a malicious act to spread hatred and violence
among people of different faiths," reported Xinhua quoting the
ministry.
Speaking at an official function in Islamabad as part of the
nationwide protest against the YouTube video, Prime Minister Raja
Pervez Ashraf condemned the film and stressed that no one should
insult religions under the excuse of freedom of expression.
"Let me make it absolutely clear, this is not about freedom of
expression, this is more about hatred, and it also demonstrates
blatant double-standards," Ashraf said.
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