HUNDREDS of protesters continued to block a main road to Pakistan’s capital yesterday after the military failed to remove them the day before in an operation which left six civilians dead.  

Two hundred people — including 80 members of the security forces — were injured in the clashes between riot police and protesters who have been occupying the road in Faizabad for three weeks.

The sit-in protesters are demanding the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid for what they consider as blasphemy after he  omitted references to the Prophet Muhammed in a parliamentary Bill.

This would weaken rules that require lawmakers to refer to the Prophet in their oaths.

Dr Masood Safdar of Benazir Bhutto Hospital said five civilians were shot and killed in the clashes on Saturday. Dr Tariq Niazi of the Holy Family Hospital confirmed the death of a young man who was shot in the head.

Yesterday the Pakistan Rangers — a paramilitary force under the command of the military — were stationed near the Faizaband sit-in after protesters torched a car, three motorcycles and a guard post.

No casualties were reported as the police and paramilitary Rangers were ordered to stay back from the protesters.

Rangers Colonel Bilal said: “We still don’t have orders to launch an operation. We will act as the government orders us.

“We have surrounded the protesters from all sides. We can move in when the government orders us.”

The army also stood poised to intervene after troops were mobilised on Saturday at police request.

Mr Hamid yesterday apologised to protesters over the omission, saying it was a clerical error that was later corrected.