ISLAMABAD, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Demonstrations against an anti- Islam movie made in the United States concluded peacefully in Pakistan on Friday, local media reported.
The government had taken security measures in the wake of violent protests which claimed over 20 lives last week.
Officials said that all processions, including one in the capital Islamabad, concluded peacefully and there had been no report of violence anywhere in the country.
Hundreds of lawyers, carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the makers of the anti-Islam film, marched towards the U.S. embassy in Islamabad.
Representatives of the lawyers submitted their protest resolution to officials of the U.S. embassy in the diplomatic enclave. The paramilitary troops then sent them back from the security zone. They demanded the U.S. government to ban the blasphemous movie which they said has hurt religious sentiments of the Muslims across the world.
Earlier, the lawyers had gathered outside Parliament House and had chanted slogans against the film. They had also handed over a "condemning resolution" to a Pakistani senator outside the parliament house.
About 600 officials of police were deployed at the Red Zone along with the anti-riot force. Paramilitary troops were tasked to maintain security inside diplomatic enclave.
A student rally which was meant to gather outside the U.S. embassy started at Faisal Mosque, several kilometers away from the U.S. embassy but dispersed shortly after.
Rallies were also taken out in several other major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Peshawar.
The Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), a group of religious parties, has announced a long march in Peshawar on October 1 to honour Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and to condemn U.S. President Barack Obama' s refusal to ban an anti-Islam film despite widespread protests.
DPC spokesman Israrullah said about 100,000 people will take part in the march. All arrangements have been finalised to ensure that this march is peaceful, he added.
The DPC demands an apology from the U.S. President, a policy that outlaws blasphemy internationally, and punishment for those who sponsored the sacrilegious film, said Israrullah. He added that the U.S. ambassador should be expelled from Pakistan till DPC' s demands were met.
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