Islamist protesters gathered in the Pakistani capital ended their days-long sit-in on Wednesday after claiming the government had agreed to a number of their demands including the hanging of a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy.

Pakistan‘s Interior Minister Chauhdry Nisar Ali Khan denied however that a deal had been struck, saying the demonstrators left “on their own accord”.

The protesters — who numbered some 25,000 at their peak — had gathered Sunday in support of Mumtaz Qadri, who was hanged in February five years after he assassinated a liberal Punjab governor over his calls to reform the country’s blasphemy laws.

The demonstrators clashed with security forces in Islamabad before setting up camp outside key government buildings along the capital’s main Constitution Avenue.

Ashraf Asif Jalali, one of the protest’s main leaders, told reporters at the protest site Wednesday evening: “As a result of the continuous four-day sit-in, the government has accepted our demands.”

“Nobody involved in blasphemy against the Holy Prophet will be given concessions, whether they be Asia Bibi or anybody else,” he added, referring to a Christian woman on death row since 2010 over a dispute with Muslim women involving a bowl of water.

He added that the government had also agreed to not make any changes toPakistan‘s controversial blasphemy law, which critics say is frequently used to oppress the poor and minorities.

However, the interior minister denied any such deal was made.

“There has been nor written or any other form of agreement,” Khan said.

“We were about to give orders to law enforcement agencies for clearing the area but then two religious personalities intervened.”

The minister added that the protesters then decided to leave on their “own accord”.

The stand-off came as Pakistan mourned more than 70 people killed in a Taliban suicide bombing targeting Christians celebrating Easter Sunday in Lahore, underscoring deep religious divisions fuelling the Muslim country’s long battle with extremism.

A police source said more than 7,000 security forces were poised to clear the sit-in, including the paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Corps with reinforcements from the Punjab police, while army troops guarded key government buildings.

Columnist Gul Bukhari said that after initially underestimating the protesters and failing to read their intentions to hold a sit-in following funeral prayers Sunday, the government had acted wisely by allowing them to tire out and displaying an overwhelming show of force.

“The show of force was put out and, in the end, all they got was a safe passage out,” she said, adding there was nothing in the agreement claimed by the protest leaders that went beyond the current status quo and it was a “face-saving measure”.

“Of course, there are no amendments planned on the blasphemy law. But there was no question of that happening. The government doesn’t even have the prerogative to change the law, that is with parliament.”

Bukhari added that the case of Asia Bibi together with other blasphemy convicts was also a judicial matter and would not be affected.

– Qadri’s legacy –

Hailed as a hero by right-wing religious groups when he murdered Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, the demonstrators have demanded that Qadri be named a “martyr” and called for the execution of Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five convicted of blasphemy.

Pakistan has 17 people on death row for blasphemy including Bibi but has not executed anyone yet.

Qadri’s hanging hailed as a “key moment” by analysts in Pakistan‘s war on religious extremism, has become a flashpoint for the deep divisions in the conservative Muslim country.

His funeral earlier this month drew tens of thousands in an extremist show of force that alarmed moderate Muslims while the call to hang Bibi along with the Easter attack in Lahore has underscored a growing sense of insecurity forPakistan‘s minorities.

On Wednesday, the death toll from the Lahore bombing climbed again to 74. Dozens more remain in hospital, seven of them critical, medical staff told AFP.

“It’s a sense of great grief, sorrow and fear,” Shamoon Gill, spokesman for the AllPakistan Minorities Alliance, told AFP.

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UPDATE: Islamist protesters gathered in the Pakistani capital said Wednesday they would not end their days-long sit-in and were “willing to die”, as armed security forces readied to clear the camp.

The stand-off, which comes as Pakistan mourns more than 70 people killed in a Taliban suicide bombing targeting Christians celebrating Easter Sunday in Lahore, underscores deep religious divisions fuelling the Muslim country’s long battle with extremism.

Several thousand protesters marched on Islamabad Sunday, clashing with security forces before setting up camp outside key government buildings along the capital’s main Constitution Avenue.

The protestors — who numbered some 25,000 at their peak — had gathered in support of Mumtaz Qadri, who was hanged in late February five years after he assassinated a liberal Punjab governor over his calls to reform the country’s blasphemy laws.

The government gave the demonstrators an ultimatum to leave late Tuesday, but it went unheeded, prompting the government to issue a second call saying security forces would begin an operation to clear the area Wednesday morning.

“If the protesters do not disperse peacefully tonight, then we will evict them in the morning in front of everyone,” Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told reporters late Tuesday.

Protesters were calm Wednesday morning as leaders said they were holding talks with authorities.

“We won’t move from this place until and unless all 10 demands are accepted,” said protest leader Ashraf Asif Jalali.

“Our workers are willing to die. If the government takes action they will not run away but face the bullets. They are not armed with guns but with clubs.”

A police source said more than 7,000 security forces were poised to clear the sit-in, including the paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Corps with reinforcements from the Punjab police.

Army troops are already standing guard at government buildings near the protest camp.

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Qadri’s legacy

Hailed as a hero by right-wing religious groups when he murdered Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, the demonstrators have demanded that Qadri be named a “martyr” and called for the execution of Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five on death row for blasphemy.

They have also demanded the imposition of Sharia law.

The government has so far rejected their demands.

Qadri’s hanging hailed as a “key moment” by analysts in Pakistan‘s war on religious extremism, has become a flashpoint for the deep divisions in the conservative Muslim country.

His funeral earlier this month drew tens of thousands in an extremist show of force that alarmed moderate Muslims in the country while the call to hang Bibi along with the Easter attack in Lahore has underscored a growing sense of insecurity for Pakistan‘s minorities.

“It’s a sense of great grief, sorrow and fear,” Shamoon Gill, spokesman for the AllPakistan Minorities Alliance, told AFP.

The Lahore blast had left Christians feeling that “no place is safe”, he said, while the “mob situation” in Islamabad was “dangerous”.

“They are a serious threat to Asia Bibi’s life… there is a chance the government could bow down to pressure on this issue,” he warned.

Moderate Muslims are also set to suffer by growing religious extremism, he said, calling on the government to devise a “clear strategy”.

Pakistani security forces readied to move on Islamist protesters to end a days-long sit-in on the streets of the capital after setting a Wednesday morning deadline for the demonstration to disperse.

Several thousand protesters marched on Islamabad Sunday, clashing with security forces before setting up camp outside key government buildings along the capital’s main Constitution Avenue.

The protestors — who numbered some 25,000 at their peak — had gathered in support of Mumtaz Qadri, who was hanged in late February five years after he assassinated a liberal Punjab governor over his calls to reform the country’s blasphemy laws.

The government gave the demonstrators an ultimatum to leave late Tuesday, but it went unheeded, prompting the government to issue a second call saying security forces would begin an operation to clear the area Wednesday morning.

“If the protesters do not disperse peacefully tonight, then we will evict them in the morning in front of everyone,” Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told reporters late Tuesday.

A police source said more than 5,000 security forces would be deployed to clear the sit-in, including the paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Corps with reinforcements from the Punjab police.

Army troops are already standing guard at government buildings near the protest camp.

Human shield

Hailed as a hero by right-wing religious groups at the time of the murder, the demonstrators have demanded that Qadri be named a “martyr” and called for the execution of a Christian mother of five convicted for blasphemy.

They have also demanded the imposition of Sharia law.

The government has rejected their demands.

Qadri’s hanging hailed as a “key moment” by analysts in Pakistan‘s long battle against religious extremism, has become a flashpoint for the deep divisions in the conservative Muslim country.

A legal notice issued to the protesters and seen by AFP accused the protesters of attempting “to frustrate the government’s drive against terrorism”.

When the government first demanded the sit-in to clear voluntarily, Interior Minister Khan said the protesters were using women and children as a “human shield” and the government could not clear the area at night for fear of hurting people.

AFP journalists at the scene on Tuesday did not see any women or children in the crowd of around 2,000.

Protesters shouted religious slogans while the leaders made fiery speeches vowing to continue their sit-in.

When the demonstrators first marched on the capital Sunday, violent clashes erupted with police and paramilitary troops.

The protesters set alight container trucks — positioned by authorities at key intersections to try and block their advance on the capital — and police responded with heavy tear gas shelling.

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