Two policemen and five other people were killed in violent protests led by a religious party in Lahore and Karachi on Tuesday. 

Those killed in Karachi were identified as Tariq, Imran, Saleemullah and Akmal. Youngster Taha was killed on the first day of violent protests in Karachi. 

In Lahore, constables Ali Imran and Muhammad Afzal died after they came under mob attacks involving activists of a religious group. According to the figures released by the Punjab Police, 97 police officers and personnel were injured in the attacks carried out by activists of the religious group calling for expulsion of the French ambassador from Pakistan over his country’s alleged support to people linked to blasphemy. According to the police, two of the injured policemen were deputy superintendents of police, five inspectors, six sub-inspectors, six assistant sub-inspectors, 12 head constables and 66 constables. 

In Karachi, violent protesters clashed with the police in areas such as Orangi, Shahra-e-Faisal, New Karachi, Star Gate and Baldia. Protesters also set motorcycles and cars on fire in many areas of the Sindh capital. The situation in the city remained highly inflammable and the protesters kept traffic blocked on several main arteries of the city. 

In Lahore, Constable Ali Imran was beaten up badly by violent protesters in the Karol Ghati area of the northern city. He died during treatment at Mayo Hospital later.