Thousands of Shias protested in Pakistan and Indian held Kashmir Sunday to condemn Saudi Arabia's execution of a leading cleric Nimr al-Nimr, as fury over the killing spread. Peaceful protests were held across Pakistan, including in Quetta where about 1,000 people called on the government to reconsider its long-time ties with Riyadh and demonstrators held placards bearing anti-Saudi slogans.
In Lahore, around 1,500 took to the streets, calling Nimr's execution a gross human rights violation, while in Karachi about a thousand men, women and children shouted slogans against the royal Saudi family. Similar protests also took place in several districts of the southern Sindh province and capital Islamabad, where about 500 people gathered to call on the UN to intervene to stop Saudi Arabia from targeting Shiite Muslims.
Amid the rallies, Saudi foreign minister Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir, who was scheduled to arrive in Islamabad Sunday evening, postponed his visit.
"The visit was postponed at the request of the authorities of Saudi Arabia," the Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement, adding the trip would take place on January 7. Meanwhile in occupied Srinagar hundreds of angry Shias clashed with police as they protested the cleric's execution. The demonstrators bearing photos of Nimr chanted "down with al-Saud dynasty," referring to Saudi leaders and called them "stooges of America" as they marched toward the city centre.
Some hurled rocks at police, who fired tear gas and wielded batons in return, a senior police officer speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP.