SWABI, Feb 4: The Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba (IJT) staged a demonstration here on Saturday in protest against the publication of blasphemous cartoons in European papers, especially in a Danish daily.

They marched towards the Kernel Sher Chowk and blocked Swabi-Jehangira and Swabi-Mardan roads for over three hours, chanting slogans against European leaders.

They demanded that Pakistan should call back their diplomats from these countries in protest. There was no need to have relations with those states, they said.

Addressing protesters, student leaders said European powers always targeted Islam. Anti-Islamic forces exploited disunity in the ranks of Muslim countries, they said and urged Muslim countries to shun their differences and work collectively against the infidels.

They warned that if Muslims failed to initiate a joint struggle against those states, they (Muslims) would suffer more.

The protesters demanded that all the Muslim countries should declare Danish ambassadors in their respective countries persona non grata.

Our Mardan Correspondent adds: The IJT Mardan chapter also protested against the blasphemous cartoons.

They set fire to old tyres and blocked the Mardan-Malakand road for over one hour.

Addressing protesters, Mardan IJT nazim Sabir Shah condemned the blasphemous cartoons.