Pakistan Interior Minister warns Islamists to disperse four-day rally peacefully

The rally turned violent on Sunday when more than 10,000 Islamists descended on the capital to denounce the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri for the secular Governor Salman Taseer's murder.

By: AP
Islamabad | March 30, 2016 12:30 PM IST

1 min read

Islamabad, Mumtaz Qadri, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Pakistani Interior Minister, Sunni Tehreek, Sunni Tehreek rally, Islamist protest, Islamabad protest, Islamabad clashes, Islamabad Sunni Tehreek rally, Islamabad Islamist rally, Pakistan news, World news

Protesters from Pakistan’s Sunni Tehreek group chant slogans during a sit-in near the parliament building in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday. (AP Photo)

Pakistan’s interior minister has warned hundreds of radical Islamists rallying for the past four days in central Islamabad to disperse peacefully and end their protest within hours.

The minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, said on late Tuesday that if the Islamists fail to do so, the government would disperse them by force.

This story requires a subscription

Select a plan and use IE10 code to get 10% extra off

POPULAR

EXPRESS EDGE

Daily ePaper access

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Starts at ₹133/month

Best for UPSC aspirants

This story requires a subscription

Please Select A Plan

POPULAR

EXPRESS EDGE

Daily ePaper access

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Starts at ₹133/month

Best for UPSC aspirants

The rally turned violent on Sunday when more than 10,000 Islamists from Pakistan’s Sunni Tehreek group descended on the capital to denounce last month’s hanging of officer Mumtaz Qadri for the 2011 murder of secular Governor Salman Taseer who had campaigned against Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws.

[related-post]

Since the start of the rally, the crowds have dwindled down to about 1,200 people. The protesters also demand the hanging of a jailed Christian woman whom Taseer had defended against blasphemy allegations.