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| Pakistan army called on to stop 'blasphemy' clashes in Islamabad | Pakistan army called on to stop 'blasphemy' clashes in Islamabad |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Pakistan's government has called for troops to be deployed in the capital, Islamabad, after violence broke out during protests by Islamists. | Pakistan's government has called for troops to be deployed in the capital, Islamabad, after violence broke out during protests by Islamists. |
| About 200 people were injured earlier when security forces tried to disperse an Islamist sit-in at the Faizabad Interchange - a key highway. | About 200 people were injured earlier when security forces tried to disperse an Islamist sit-in at the Faizabad Interchange - a key highway. |
| That operation has now been suspended. | That operation has now been suspended. |
| The protesters have been blocking the highway for several weeks, demanding the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid whom they accuse of blasphemy. | The protesters have been blocking the highway for several weeks, demanding the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid whom they accuse of blasphemy. |
| Pakistani media report that demonstrators also broke into the minister's residence in Punjab province. Mr Hamid and his family were not in the building. | |
| The protests have spread to other cities, including the southern port of Karachi. | |
| Tear gas fired | Tear gas fired |
| The Pakistani government authorised the deployment of the army in Islamabad on Saturday evening. | The Pakistani government authorised the deployment of the army in Islamabad on Saturday evening. |
| The interior minister said the order was issued at the request of the city authorities. | The interior minister said the order was issued at the request of the city authorities. |
| Earlier on Saturday, security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets to try to disperse the demonstrators, Pakistani media report, but were met with rocks and tear gas shells. | Earlier on Saturday, security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets to try to disperse the demonstrators, Pakistani media report, but were met with rocks and tear gas shells. |
| About 8,500 elite police and paramilitary forces took part in the operation to clear the Faizabad Interchange. | |
| The request for the military deployment came after hundreds more demonstrators turned up unexpectedly forcing the police to retreat. | The request for the military deployment came after hundreds more demonstrators turned up unexpectedly forcing the police to retreat. |
| There was no immediate comment from the Pakistani military. | There was no immediate comment from the Pakistani military. |
| The protesting Islamists, from the hardline Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Party, want the law minister to be sacked for omitting a reference to the Prophet Muhammad in a new version of the electoral oath. | The protesting Islamists, from the hardline Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Party, want the law minister to be sacked for omitting a reference to the Prophet Muhammad in a new version of the electoral oath. |
| The minister has since apologised saying it was a clerical error. | The minister has since apologised saying it was a clerical error. |