At least three people were injured Friday in clashes between anti-Charlie Hebdo protesters and police outside the French consulate in Karachi, officials said, including an AFP photographer who was shot in the back. The protest by the student wing of the Jamaat-i-Islami was one of several staged across Pakistan by Islamist groups after Friday prayers against blasphemous caricatures by the French satirical magazine.
"Three injured were brought to the hospital, two were minor injuries and one photographer was serious," said Doctor Seemi Jamali, a spokeswoman for Jinnah Hospital, referring to AFP's Asif Hassan, 38. "The bullet struck his lung, and passed through his chest. He is out of immediate danger and he has spoken to his colleagues," she continued, adding that Hassan was hit by what appeared to be a live round.
The others injured were a policeman and a local TV cameraman who were discharged after receiving first aid. Senior police official Abdul Khaliq Sheikh told AFP that the violence began when some 350 protesters were prevented by police from approaching the French consulate. "When the police tried to stop them they started firing," he said, adding that the police responded with tear gas and water cannon to disperse the protesters. Police said Hassan and the other journalist did not appear to have been deliberately targeted but were caught in crossfire when protesters shot at the police.
A witness at the scene backed the police account, though the religious party blamed the police. "Police are responsible for those wounded during the protest including Asif Hasan," said Hafiz Bilal Ramzan, head of the party's student wing, Islami Jamiat Talba (IJT).
French flags burnt In Pakistan, thousands of religious party activists turned out nation-wide, including followers of Jamaat-ud-Dawa. Protesters in the north-west city of Peshawar and central Multan burnt French flags on the streets, while rallies were also held in Islamabad and Lahore. In addition to protests by religious parties, lawyers have vowed to boycott court proceedings to show their displeasure over the blasphemous sketches.
BR staff reporter adds: Islami Jamiat Talba (IJT) announced A mourning day on Saturday at all educational institutions including colleges and universities against police action. Hundreds of activists from universities and colleges of Islami Jamiat Talba (IJT) had gathered at 'Teen Talwar' in Clifton to condemn the sacrilegious caricatures published by French magazine. Police used tear gas and fired gun shots; as result of which, a photographer of a foreign news agency and four others sustained bullet injuries. During the skirmishes students also hurled stone towards the police that left a police constable Akram and cameraman of private TV channel Adeel Ashraf injured. The injured were brought to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) for medical treatment.
The protestors chanted slogans against the inflammatory cartoons and called for a ban on the magazine. Rangers were called in to control the situation outside the consulate. At least 20 protestors reportedly were arrested. Following the clash, the protesters retreated to 'Teen Talwar' while police blocked access to the consulate.
Later, the police held a successful dialogue with protesters after which the crowd dispersed peacefully. Boat Basin police also arrested 10 students. According to TV footage aired police constable fired at the protesting students. Station House Officer (SHO) Naseer Tanoli could not be reached for his comments. "A three-member group of IJT wanted to submit a memorandum against sacrilegious cartoon published by French satirical weekly here at French Consulate," Secretary General IJT Umair Seed told newsmen during a press conference at Karachi Press Club. He said all the students marched towards French Consulate peacefully but police abruptly started firing and used tear gas. He said that two journalists and 12 students were injured due to police high-handedness. He said that policemen in civvies beat up students severely at the behest of their masters. He demanded of the government to take action against police officials involved in the incident. He also asked the police authorities to release detained students immediately.
Comments
Comments are closed.