{"id":32735,"date":"2017-11-26T16:16:25","date_gmt":"2017-11-26T10:46:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/?p=32735"},"modified":"2017-11-26T16:17:42","modified_gmt":"2017-11-26T10:47:42","slug":"six-dead-230-injured-protest-creates-havoc-islamabad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/world-news\/six-dead-230-injured-protest-creates-havoc-islamabad\/","title":{"rendered":"Six dead, 230 injured as protest creates havoc in Islamabad"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Protest erupted over a hastily-abandoned amendment to the oath taken by law minister Zahid Hamid
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\n<\/span><\/i>With the Pakistan military hesitant to react at government\u2019s call for help, the anti-blasphemy protest in Islamabad turned violent on Sunday \u2013 as security forces failed to disperse Islamist protestors from the streets in Islamabad.<\/span><\/p>\n

While hundreds of protestors continue blocking the roads and intersections \u2013 which connects Islamabad and neighboring Rawalpindi, paralyzing Pakistan\u2019s key cities for weeks (since November 8) \u2013 security forces attempts to handle the situation made it more tense \u2013 as infuriated protestors torched vehicles and threw stones.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the protest intensifying with each passing day, at least six people were killed and 230 injured before the forces retreated from the Islamabad streets late on Saturday. While the local hospitals have confirmed that most of the injured Islamists have already been released 20 protestors are still admitted with serious injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

The nationwide protest in Islamabad erupted over a hastily-abandoned amendment to the oath taken by Pakistan’s law minister Zahid Hamid. Demanding for the resignation of the minister, Islamist protestors linked it to blasphemy \u2013 claiming that the oath was softened to enable the participation of Ahmadis, who are not taken as Muslim community in the country. <\/span><\/p>\n

While the country\u2019s military had been ruling Pakistan<\/strong><\/a> for almost half of its 70-year history, no official military response or armored vehicles had been deployed in the streets till Saturday. However, according to the country\u2019s interior ministry, the federal government had authorized to deploy \u201csufficient troops\u201d to \u201ccontrol law and order\u201d in the capital.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adding more confusion to the tension, private television broadcasts remained blocked and social media sites were restricted.<\/span><\/p>\n

$\"Pakistan-protest\"$ <\/span><\/p>\n

Stating that the only channel working on the television is the state owned Pakistan TV \u2013 which also is featuring a children\u2019s program \u2013 Naeem \u2013 a resident at Islamabad market \u2013 told AFP, \u201cI don’t have any clue what is happening. Only Allah is running this country.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Another local resident, Shadman Sharar Shohan, wrote over a post on Facebook<\/strong><\/a>, \u201cPolice, administration should be bolder on decision making next time. This Incompetent govt. has made blunder on everything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n