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-42124446
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan army called on to stop 'blasphemy' clashes in Islamabad | Pakistan army called on to stop 'blasphemy' clashes in Islamabad |
| (about 1 hour 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 when security forces tried to disperse an Islamist sit-in at the Faizabad Interchange - a key highway. | About 200 people were injured when security forces tried to disperse an Islamist sit-in at the Faizabad Interchange - a key highway. |
| Several deaths have been reported. | Several deaths have been reported. |
| 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. | 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 Lahore and the southern port of Karachi. | |
| The Pakistani government asked the army to deploy in Islamabad on Saturday evening. | |
| The interior minister said the order was issued at the request of the city authorities, who were not able to clear the sit-in. | The interior minister said the order was issued at the request of the city authorities, who were not able to clear the sit-in. |
| There was no immediate comment from the Pakistani military. | |
| 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 crackdown was later suspended. | About 8,500 elite police and paramilitary forces took part in the operation to clear the Faizabad Interchange. The crackdown was later suspended. |
| Protesters said four of their activists were killed, but police said there were no deaths, Reuters reports. | Protesters said four of their activists were killed, but police said there were no deaths, Reuters reports. |
| However, officials are quoted in other reports confirming that several people were killed. Many of those injured are security personnel. | |
| 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. |
| At one point, the authorities took all private television news channels off air, apparently out of concern that the live coverage of the police action could inflame religious sentiments. | |
| 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. |