PESHAWAR, July 11: Protests against the Lal Masjid operation were held in different parts of the NWPF on Wednesday. In Battagram, thousands of people took out a procession against the killing of Abdul Rashid Ghazi and others. There was heavy deployment of the Frontier Constabulary and police personnel in the town where violent protesters had set ablaze offices and structures of two international relief organisations on Tuesday.

Police sources said armed people were still holding positions on hilltops near Kas Pul in Battagram and continued intermit firing.

On a request of the district administration, the provincial government deployed FC personnel and extra police force in sensitive areas and outside offices of non-governmental organisations.

The protesters on Wednesday called for immediate release of Maulana Abdul Aziz and registration of an FIR against the prime minister and the president.

Addressing the protesters, district Jamaat-i-Islami chief Nisar Ahmad Khan, general secretary Mohammad Rafique and Shabab Mili president Nisar Mujahid criticised the operation and alleged: “The government killed hundreds of innocent people and Abdul Rashid Ghazi to please their American masters.

They demanded that the media should be given access to Lal Masjid and accused the government of hiding facts because no foreign militant was present in the mosque complex.

In Peshawar, activists of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and other religious organisations marched from Madni Masjid to Bajori Gate in protest against the operation.

They chanted slogans against the government, Pakistan People’s Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto and the US government.

The protesters urged the government to remove security forces from Lal Masjid, Jamia Hafsa, Jamia Fareedia and release the arrested people. They also demanded an independent inquiry into the operation.