QUETTA, Sept 21: A complete strike was observed in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan on Friday in protest against the anti-Islam film and participants of rallies torched effigies of US President Barack Obama and pastor Tarry Jones.

In some places, workers belonging to different political and religious parties burnt tyres on roads and blocked traffic.

Over 40 processions were taken out by political and religious parties and social, labour, minority, trader and student organisations against the blasphemous film. They included both factions of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Jamaat Ahle Sunnat, Jamaatud Dawa, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Anjuman Wahdatul Muslimeen, Markazi Anjuman Tajraan, Sunni Tehrik, Anjuman Talaba-i-Islam, Pakistan Nursing Federation, All Balochistan Restaurants and Hotels Association and student organisations in the Government Science College and the University of Balochistan.

In Quetta, thousands of people took to the streets after Friday prayers, carrying banners and placards inscribed with anti-US slogans. After marching on roads chanting slogans against America, Israel and other western countries, the protesters reached the Quetta Press Club.

Addressing the participants of rallies, leaders condemned the anti-Islam film and urged Pakistan to sever diplomatic relations with the US if it failed to punish the makers of the film which hurt the sentiments of people across the Muslim world. Rallies and demonstrations were also held in Noshki, Dera Murad Jamali, Sibi, Bolan, Pishin, Qila Saifullah, Zhob, Muslim Bagh, Qila Abdullah, Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar, Kharan, Awaran, Gwadar, Turbat, Lasbella, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Loralai, Harnai, Dukki, Musakhel, Barkhan and other towns and cities.

Tight security arrangements were made and law-enforcement personnel deployed in main cities to avoid any untoward incident. Shops, commercial centres and markets remained closed and traffic was thin.