LAHORE, Oct 10: Hundreds of people held a protest demonstration on the Circular Road and burnt tyres to protest against the blast in a Mochi Gate mosque on Sunday.

They chanted slogans against the government and police for failing in protecting places of worship. They said the fresh attack spoke volumes for the government negligence in maintaining law and order in the country.

Agha Tauqeer, a Shia leader, said that they had already communicated to the government that such incidents could occur on the occasion of death anniversary of Maulana Azam Tariq. But the government did not take effective measures.

Traffic on the Circular Road remained suspended for several hours. The protesters also thrashed a few policemen to vent their anger. However, the anti-riot police remained present to meet any eventuality.

Meanwhile, DIG Tariq Saleem, SSP (operations) Aftab Cheema and SP (security) Raja Rifat reached there and tried to calm the protesters. The police officers told them that two policemen besides two private guards were performing their duties outside the mosque when the incident took place.

One of the constables, Akram, they said was also hurt in the blast. The officers said that metal detectors had been made compulsory for the guards posted outside the mosques and Imam Bargahs.