The Pakistani government on Sunday deployed paramilitary forces under military command to respond to protesters who blocked a major highway, set vehicles on fire, and attacked a police checkpoint. At least six protesters were killed in the initial clash and about 200 more people were injured.
The demonstrators have been in the streets for weeks rallying against a proposed parliamentary rule change that would no longer require lawmakers to mention the Prophet Mohammed while taking their oath of office. Protesters have accused the Pakistani law minister, Zahid Hamid, of blasphemy over the proposal and have demanded his resignation.
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