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FAISALABAD, Feb 14: Unexpected violence and hooliganism marked the province-wide strike on Tuesday against the publication of profane depictions in some foreign newspapers.
A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Faisalabad where the protesters turned violent, making the police resort to tear-gas and aerial firing. The mob damaged various installations and the publicity boards of multinational companies, especially a Norwegian cell phone outlet.
The major clash between the police and young protesters took place at Katchery Bazaar. The protesters pelted the police with stones and damaged window-panes of various shops and government offices. Motorcyclists were dealt roughly and vehicles also came under the attack.
Meanwhile, a religious outfit broke the panes of two buses of a local urban transport company on the Dijkot Road and tried to set them ablaze, but the police controlled the situation.
In all, traders, students of seminaries, religious activists and people from all walks of life took out 19 rallies in the city. Clashes between the mob and the police also took place on the Satiana, Circular, Dijkot and Narwala roads, besides at Katchery Bazaar, Ghulam Muhammadabad, Gulistan Colony and D-Grounds.
Meanwhile, the district administration has postponed all the rallies and demonstrations here.
The decision has been taken at a meeting of government officials, traders and representatives of various religious bodies at the circuit house.
Officials said no one would bring out rallies without the formal approval of the city district government. A committee was formed to submit proposals for future strategy.
SARGODHA: Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Saleem interchange, about 40 kilometres from here, and set fire to old tyres and pelted vehicles with stones.
The mob assembled at the motorway and blocked the traffic for two hours by hurling broken bottles, which damaged the vehicles. Meanwhile, heavy contingent of police reached the troubled spot and controlled the situation. They stood guard at many interchanges.
People of Bhera and Bhalwal also staged protests and expressed their anguish over the issue.
It is learnt that the Phularwan police registered a case on terrorism charges against 200 people and arrested 32 of them.
GUJRANWALA: Several people, including journalists, suffered hurts when police baton-charged them during a rally. The police took the action when the protesters uprooted a hoarding of a foreign firm and burnt flags and effigies of European countries.
The speakers, however, lashed the police and demanded a strict action against the officers who ordered the crackdown.
Meanwhile, a shutter-down strike was observed in the city on the call of the Anjuman-i-Tajran. All the markets remained closed from dawn to dusk.
Other rallies were taken out at Gakkhar Town, Kamoki, Rasoolnagar and other areas.
SAHIWAL: Traders, students, lawyers and activists of religious outfits took to roads in Sahiwal and vent anger against blasphemy.
Thousands of protesters marched through various markets and attacked a cell phone office, besides damaging advertisement boards. At some places they burnt tyres and raised slogans against the perpetrators.
The speakers demanded that the government should sever ties with the nations involved in blasphemy and boycott their products.
MANDI BAHAUDDIN: In Mandi Bahauddin, all the institutions, shops and emporiums remained closed. Surprisingly, there was no definite plan to stage protest till a day ago but as the students of an institution came out in the morning and raised slogans at the College chowk, people from other callings joined them.
The traffic was thrown out of gear and some of the protesters set fire to motorcycles.
Similar strikes were observed in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Pakpattan and Vehari.
