MOSCOW, January 16 (Sputnik) — Two people were injured when anti-Charlie Hebdo protesters clashed with police in Karachi, according to the Express Tribune.
#AFP photographer #Asif in critical condition covering anti #CharlieHebo protest in #Karachi
— Nazar Ul Islam (@NaxarUlIslam) 16 января 2015
The protesters, mostly members of the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, were marching toward the French consulate to express their outrage at the Charlie Hebdo caricatures depicting the Prophet. According to the newspaper, Rangers were deployed to aid the police, and at least 20 protesters have already been detained by the authorities. The protesters started to disperse and instead moved to stage a sit in at the Teen Talwar monument.
Negotiations underway between protesters and Police near French Consulate, #Karachi, Live Updates pic.twitter.com/OCKirGZgN7
— JAAG TV (@JaagAlerts) 16 января 2015
According to SAMAA TV, police employed tear gas and water cannons to contain the situation. The protesters pelted law enforcement officers with stones while calling for a ban on the Charlie Hebdo magazine.
Later police held a successful dialogue with the protesters after which the crowd disbursed from outside the French Consulate and the area has been cleared.
A spokesman for IJT (Jamaat-e-Islami) said they would protest outside the Karachi Press Club and hold a news conference to declare their new agenda.
The protest was called during a press conference Thursday by the Jamaat-e-Islami Sindh chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman. SAMAA TV points out that a separate demonstration against Charlie Hebdo was also announced by Sunni Ittehad Council after Friday prayers.
