Protest rallies are being organised, while business activities remain shut.
Protest rallies are being organised, while business activities remain shut. PHOTO: AFP
Youm-e-Ishq-e-Rasool (pbuh) [love of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Day] is being observed throughout Pakistan today (Friday) on the orders of the Government of Pakistan, condemning the anti-Islam film, Express News reported.
Protest rallies are being organised, while business activities remain shut.
1:27pm
The entry and exit points of Islamabad have been sealed.
1:24pm
Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif said that the Government of Punjab condemns the anti-Islam film and that the entire nation is protesting against it.
He said that the film is a form of “open terrorism”. Sharif further said that disrespect of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) cannot be tolerated.
“All the entry and exit points of Karachi are heavily guarded. Helicopters are on stand-by for aerial surveillance,” provincial police chief Fayyaz Laghari told AFP.
“We have deployed our maximum police force to the sensitive parts of the city to ensure security during protest rallies today,” he added.
1:13pm
Newsweek Pakistan, in a message posted on Twitter, reported that a correspondent of ARY News was killed by police bullets in Peshawar. However, Express News reported that a driver named Muhammad Amir, employed by a private TV channel was killed in the incident.
1:02pm
The building of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been set ablaze by protesters.
1:00pm
Express News correspondent Imran Asghar reported that Islamabad police has ran out of rubber bullets as a result of heavy firing.
He said that when protesters in Rawalpindi ran out of tyres to burn, they broke into tyre shops located at the Pir Widai Road and stole tyres from there.
A control room has been established in the Red Zone in Islamabad on the orders of Chief Commissioner. The control room is tasked to monitor the security situation and keep the Interior Ministry updated.
Different political and religious parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, Jamaatud Dawa, Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat, Jamaatud Dawa, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, have announced that rallies will be taken out after Friday prayers.
12:43pm
Three police officials in Rawalpindi and one in Peshawar fell unconscious after teargas was fired.
A number of protesters were also injured during firing in Peshawar.
Protesters in Gujranwala burnt effigies of US President Barack Obama during a demonstration.
12:35pm
A 2kg bomb recovered from Bhana Mari area of Peshawar has been defused.
12:33pm
Express News correspondent Naeem Qaiser reported that all the roads leading to the Office of Consul General of US located at Shimla Pahari have been blocked with containers, while Mall Road that leads to US Consulate in Lahore has also been blocked.
Aftab Khan from Karachi reported that Jamaatud Dawa, Jamaat-e-Islami have announced that they will hold rallies after Friday prayers. The rally will march from Guru Mandir to US Consulate.
12:22pm
Roads leading to the US Consulate have been sealed in Karachi.
12:20pm
A contingent of Pakistan Army has been deployed around the US Consulate in Peshawar in order to thwart any possible terror bid.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has ordered that security in Islamabad be tightened and that no members of banned outfits will be allowed into the city. He said that directives in this regard have been issued to the Inspector General of Police Islamabad.
12:15pm
A demonstration organised by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is being carried out in Quetta.
The protesters in Peshawar said that they will proceed towards the US Consulate after Friday prayers.
12:10pm
Express News correspondent Islamuddin reported that many protesters fainted as a result of the teargas shelled by the police. They have been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital.
He added that an additional contingent of police has been deployed around Firdous Cinema, while the fire brigade has been called to put out the fire. Islamuddin said that cinema’s interior has been completely destroyed by the fire.
12:02pm
Police opened fire and fired teargas shells to disperse the mob in Peshawar.
Section 144 has been imposed in Islamabad.
11:59am
The Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ) has taken out a rally in Hyderabad in which protesters are burning US flags.
Members of the Sikh Community are also protesting against the sacrilegious film in Nankana Sahib.
11:49am
Protesters in Peshawar set ablaze Firdous Cinema and destroyed shops located nearby.
