One person was killed in violent protests against an anti-Islam film in northwest Pakistan today even as the Supreme Court directed authorities to block access to contents from the movie on YouTube and other websites. A man was killed and two more were injured in a reported exchange of fire with police during a protest in Upper Dir district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in the northwest.
A mob of nearly 1,000 people also set on fire a press club and a police station during the protest. In Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, thousands of students and teachers joined several protests against the anti-Islam film.
Reuters
The protestors shouted slogans against the US, burnt American flags and blocked roads by setting tyres on fire. Members of the Islami Jamiat Talaba, the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, were among those who joined the protests.
The demonstrators also called for the film to be banned. The protests, which began on Friday, spread to northwest Pakistan today.
Many people were also injured in the southern port city of Karachi yesterday when protesters and security forces clashed outside the US Consulate.
Police tightened security all around the mission as hardline groups announced plans for more protests in Karachi.
Roads near the US Consulate were blocked with empty containers.
At least 44 policemen, besides 11 protesters, were injured in the clashes, said Mohammad Iqbal, Additional Inspector General (Sindh), adding that three of them were admitted to hospital in critical condition.
“It was supposed to be a peaceful protest but turned violent when the protesters tried to enter the US consulate,” he said.
PTI
