Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) Pakistani
officials on Saturday authorized the deployment of soldiers in the
capital, Islamabad, to restore order after two weeks of raucous and
violent protests.
At least two people died and more than 250 others have been injured in the street demonstrations, hospital officials said.
The
Interior Ministry called for a "sufficient number" of Pakistan Army
troops to help establish "law and order" in the Islamabad Capital
Territory, according to the internal order.
The
move, conferred under constitutional powers, was requested by the
Islamabad Capital Territory Administration. It was not immediately clear
when, or if, the army would take the streets.
Protesters had been blocking a key road connecting Islamabad and the neighboring city of Rawalpindi since November 6.
The
group is demanding the resignation of the country's law minister for
what it considers blasphemy after amended parliamentary bills weakened
rules that require lawmakers to reference the Prophet Mohammed when
taking their oaths.
Protesters on
Saturday tried to break into the home of Law and Justice Minister Zahid
Hamid, police in the Punjabi city of Sialkot said. Hamid and his family
weren't home at the time. The gate at the residence was damaged, police
said.
Slingshots and tear gas
Pakistan
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal had given protesters around Islamabad
until last Thursday to disperse, but they continued their demonstration.
Protesters threw tear gas shells back to police during a clash on Saturday.
Video
from the scene Saturday showed law enforcement forces carrying sticks
and firing tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters. Groups of
protesters could be seen throwing rocks with their hands or using
slingshots.
About 100 protesters were arrested Saturday, said Fakhar Sultan, a police officer in Rawalpindi city.
At
least 112 people, including protesters and law enforcement, were being
treated at the Pakistani Institute of Medical Services in Islamabad,
said Dr. Tahir Nadeem, a physician at the hospital.
Three
smaller protests broke out in Rawalpindi on roads leading to the
capital, a journalist there said. The motorway between Rawalpindi and
the eastern city of Lahore also was closed, as authorities feared more
protesters might try to enter the city to support demonstrators in the
capital.
Protests also broke out in Lahore and the southern port city of Karachi, local media reported.
Media blackout ordered
Private
television channels in Pakistan were taken off the air by the Pakistan
Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, according to a message slate that
replaced the channels' programming.
Dozens of Pakistani police and demonstrators were injured Saturday.
The agency had ordered local TV channels to refrain from live coverage of the ongoing government operation.
Only state-run PTV, which has not been reporting on the protest, remained on air.
Blasphemy accusations leveled
Demonstrators
accuse the government of blasphemy based on a proposed changed that
they say would soften electoral laws. The government has apologized and
denied making such a change, calling it a clerical mistake.