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Violent anti-Islam film protests claim 13 lives in Pakistan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Sept, 21, IRNA -- The people in Pakistan showed unity on Friday to strongly condemn the blasphemous film made in the United States and the demonstrators burnt American flags and effigies of President Barrack Obama and producers of the movie.

Violent protests across Pakistan on Friday claimed at least 13 lives while nearly 200 more were injured, hospital and police sources said.

Officials said that nine people were killed in the port city of Karachi and four in the northwestern Peshawar during attempts by the angry protesters to march towards the U.S. diplomatic missions.

Angry demonstrators attacked police check posts, police vans, cinema houses, banks and even restaurants, vehicles and public property in some areas.

They burnt several cinema houses in Peshawar and Karachi. The government, religious and political parties had appealed for peaceful protest against the blasphemous movie but the protests turned violent after Friday prayers when thousands of demonstrators in major cities, including Islamabad, clashed with the police and other law enforcement personnel. They wanted to reach the U.S. diplomatic missions but the police and other law enforcement agencies stopped them while using aerial firing, tear gas shells and blocking roads.

Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Friday criticized the notion of the freedom of expression in the West to insult religious beliefs and promote hatred. Speaking at a function in Islamabad as part of the countrywide protest against the anti-Islam film made in the U.S., he said no one should be allowed to defame religion on the excuse of freedom of expression.

“Let me make it absolutely clear: this is not about freedom of expression, this is more about hatred, and it also demonstrates blatant double-standards,’ PM Ashraf said.

He condemned the efforts to insult the Muslim Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and said that an attack on the Prophet is an attack on the core belief of 1.5 billion Muslims, which is unacceptable.

Pakistan on Friday summoned the U.S. Charg d'Affaires Richard Hoagland to the Foreign Ministry and a strong protest was lodged with him over the blasphemous video posted on the YouTube attacking the personage of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

'The U.S. diplomat was told that this was an attack on 1.5 billion Muslims and a premeditated and a malicious act to spread hatred and violence among people of different faiths,' the Foreign Ministry said.

The official protest was lodged amid widespread protests in Pakistan against the anti-Islam movie, which has also prompted violent protest in parts of the Muslim world.

The Foreign Ministry said the American diplomat was further conveyed that the U.S. government should immediately take measures to remove the sacrilegious video from YouTube and take action against its author, a statement said.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 80333622