This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35926675

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Mumtaz Qadri case: Pakistan police warn supporters to leave Pakistan Islamist protesters end four-day blasphemy protest
(about 7 hours later)
Pakistani security forces are on standby to remove more than 1,000 hardline Islamist protesters from central Islamabad. Hard-line Islamist protesters who overran a security zone in Pakistan's capital dispersed after assurances the government had no plans to amend the blasphemy law, a minister says.
The demonstrators are angry at the recent execution of police guard Mumtaz Qadri, who assassinated a politician for advocating blasphemy law reform. Khawaja Saad Rafique took part in talks with religious leaders to end the four-day demonstration in Islamabad.
They have pledged to defy the authorities and continue their action. The riots began after the execution of a police guard who killed a politician for advocating blasphemy law reform.
Pakistan's interior minister has vowed to clear the high-security zone, which the protesters overran on Sunday. There had been a threat to clear the thousands of protesters by force.
"We don't want any violence, but we can't tolerate it any more," Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told protesters late on Tuesday. They had been calling for the immediate execution of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy.
He moved a deadline for them to disperse from Tuesday evening to Wednesday. Critics say Pakistan's blasphemy laws, which allow the death penalty to be imposed in some cases, are often misused to oppress religious minorities.
Talks have since been going on to try to break the deadlock. Ms Bibi's case was championed by moderate Punjab governor Salman Taseer before he was shot dead by police guard Mumtaz Qadri in 2011.
The protesters have also called for the immediate execution of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy. Qadri's supporters say he is a hero and should be considered a martyr.
Her case was championed by moderate Punjab governor Salman Taseer before he was shot dead by Qadri in 2011. Qadri's supporters say he is a hero and should be considered a martyr. Mr Saad Rafique, the railway minister who was involved in negotiations, said an understanding was reached over a number of issues.
Critics say the blasphemy laws, which allow the death penalty to be imposed in some cases, are often misused to oppress religious minorities. He said there were verbal clarifications that the government did not intend to offer any extraordinary concessions to blasphemy convicts.
Four days of protests in the capital have once again highlighted Pakistan's deep divisions over its battle with extremism. The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says the clerics were also told to submit their proposals for the imposition of Sharia, another of their demands, with the ministry of religious affairs.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says some 600 troops have been deployed at the government's request in the Red Zone where government buildings are located, but they have largely taken a back seat. Our correspondent says some 600 troops had been deployed at the government's request in Islamabad's Red Zone where government buildings are located.
It is thought by some that a clear message from the powerful army could end the protests more quickly, our correspondent says. Over the four days the number of demonstrators diminished from at least 10,000 to about 1,000.
The lack of such a move underlines the on-off civilian-military divide in Pakistani politics, he says. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said more than 1,000 people had also been arrested - and only those found to be involved in any violence would be charged.
"We will release them gradually after checking details of their offences," he said.
The protests in the capital have once again highlighted Pakistan's deep divisions over its battle with extremism.