Thousand of people thronged the streets in the provincial capital on Friday to observe 'Youm-e-Ishaq-e-Rasool (PBUH)' and pay homage to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and condemn the anti-Islam movie clip. Participants of various rallies, taken out by several religious and political parties, clashed with police at various points after protesters were stopped from marching towards the US consulate on the Davis Road. During the ensuing clashes, a number of protestors and policemen were injured.
Police resorted to baton-charge, firing in air and tear-gas shelling to discourage the protestors from moving towards the heavily guarded US Consulate. In the evening, when police failed to disperse mob, the Rangers took over the area. Rallies were took out by Pakistan Sunni Tehrik, Pakistan Muslim League-N, Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf, Majlis Wahdat ul Muslimeen, Minhaj Ul Quran, Dawat-e-Haq Organisation, Jamaat ud Dawah, Pakistan Defence Council, Tehrik Hurmat-e-Rasool, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Tahaffuz Namoos Risalat Mahaz and other groups took out rallies after Friday prayers.
Activists of, Jamaat-i-Islami Lahore and PML-N gathered on the Mall Road as soon as Jumma prayers ended. Police had barricaded the road (leading to the Punjab Assembly and the US Consulate) with containers near the offices of Business Recorder and Aaj News.
During the speech of PML-N Lahore President Muhammad Pervez Malik, some young men tried to push back containers and pelted police with stones. However, leaders urged youth to remain calm. The rally was addressed by Dr Farid Paracha, Dr Wasim Akhtar, Amirul Azeem, Pervaiz Malik, MNA, Mian Marghoob, MNA, Khawaja Imran Nazeer, Khwaja Salman Rafiq and others.
Soon after leaders left the area, protestors clashed with police and succeeded in removing containers and barbed wires barriers to march towards the US Consulate. In response, the police used tear-gas shelling to disperse the mob. A tear-gas shell landed in the parking area of Business Recorder/Aaj News office, affecting the staffers working there.
Activists of various political parties and religious groups continued their protest on the Mall Road till Maghrib prayers and several of them tried to proceed towards the US Consulate. Some protestors also clashed with police in front of the Punjab Governor's House, where people tore down posters bearing pictures of PPP leader Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari.
Meanwhile, protesters fiercely clashed with police near the US Consulate. Police fired several shots in the air, besides restoring to heavy tear-gas shelling and baton-charge to disperse the mob. Protestors retaliated by hurling back stones and bricks at police and even damaged some nearby property.
Pitched battles lasting more than three hours were fought between policemen in riot gear and protesters, during which several protesters were arrested. later, Rangers were called in to control the situation after police failed to disperse the mob. The district administration had practically sealed off all roads leading to the US Consulate since Thursday night, creating several tiered security barriers. However, the angry protestors managed to reach Egerton Road (leading to the US Consulate) by pushing the containers and removing the razor-sharp barbed wire fences. The closest security barrier around the US Consulate was created by putting large containers one on top of other to deter the protesters from reaching the consulate.
The administration also sealed off other main roads of the city, including the Mall Road, Jail Road, Allama Iqbal Road, Sunder Das road, Queen Mary College Road, Empress Road and Abbot Road. These security barriers practically cut off the Walled City and central Lahore from Cantonment areas, Gulberg and eastern parts, including Model Town, which created problems for the masses.
Meanwhile, addressing participants, Chairman of Pakistan Sunni Tehrik Sahibzada Fazal Karim called for an effective and powerful role from the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC). He said the Muslims would not hesitate from sacrificing their lives for the respect of the Prophet (PBUH).
He, however, said those carrying out violent protests or damaging public and private properties were not their workers. This was not their mission, as Sunni Tehrik was a peaceful party and its workers would disperse peacefully. Local leaders of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and others also condemned the defamatory film and its makers. They also advised the participants to remain peaceful.
Jamaat e Islami's main Ameer Syed Munawar Hasan urged Muslim rulers to stop advocacy of the US and the West, and instead present themselves as representatives of Islam and the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Addressing the Friday congregation at Mansoora mosque, he said if President Zardari and the Federal Cabinet had come out on roads and protested against the blasphemous film, people would not have gone out of control. "The rulers' cowardice and slavery mentality was the main cause behind the people's anger," he added. He demanded of the government to summon the US envoy and press for the arrest of Pastor Terry Jones and the Zionist film maker. In case the US does not oblige, the its envoy should be expelled from the country, he added.
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