AMN
Pakistan’s Law Minister Zahid Hamid has resigned following widespread protests over a perceived softening of the state’s position on blasphemy.
The Minister tendered his resignation, which was the main demand of protesters, after the government reached an agreement with the agitating parties.
Meanwhile the protest leaders have called off sit-ins that have been hampering daily life in cities across the country after their list of demands were accepted by the government.
The protesters had blocked the highway connecting the capital Islamabad with Rawalpindi since the 8th of this month demanding the resignation.
Government and the protesters overnight. The deal came after a two-day face-off in Islamabad and other parts of the country between protesters and security forces that saw at least six people killed and hundreds injured.
Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan government restored news and TV channels which were taken off-air on Saturday for showing LIVE, the police crackdown against the protesters. The gag orders on social media continue across Pakistan.
The Army was called in yesterday to deal with the aftermath of a botched operation against protesters from religious parties that paralyzed the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi for over a fortnight. As many as six people were killed and hundreds wounded.