Religious, political parties call for shutdown in Quetta
Markets and shops were closed in the provincial capital on Friday.
QUETTA (Web Desk) – Shutter down strike in being observed in the southwestern city of Quetta on the call of religious and political parties to protest against satirical French weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo for publishing blasphemous caricatures, Dunya News reported.
Markets and shops were closed in the city while major roads witnessed thin traffic.
Different parties including Islami Jamiat Nazriati, Alhe Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Balochistan Muttahida Muhaaz and other groups will take out rally from Hockey Chowk which will conclude at Bacha Khan Chowk.
COUNTRYWIDE PROTESTS
Earlier on Thursday, thousands of people marched in Karachi against Charlie Hebdo as anger remains high in Pakistan over the publication of images depicting Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
The march through the streets of Karachi was the biggest in a series of demonstrations against the magazine, whose Paris offices were attacked on January 7 by gunmen, killing 12 people.
Protesters carried green flags and chanted anti-Charlie Hebdo slogans as they marched.
"Down with Charlie Hebdo, down with the blasphemers," they shouted.
One of the protest leaders, Sarwat Ejaz Qadri, demanded that the Pakistan government cut diplomatic ties with France.
"Their ambassador should be declared persona non grata and must be expelled from the country," Qadri said.
In eastern city of Lahore, around 2,000 from different groups including labour unions and a body that represents government clerical staff, also held a demonstration condemning the publication of the cartoon.
The protestors chanted slogans including "Down with France, France should tender an apology".
Across the border in Afghanistan, around 50 people gathered outside the French Embassy in Kabul to protest against the magazine, chanting "France you are the devil".
Under Pakistan s strict blasphemy laws, insulting the prophet can carry the death penalty. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and parliament last week strongly condemned the publication of the cartoons.
