Pakistan extends deadline to end Islamist rally for 24 hours
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A government deadline set for an Islamic group to disband its dayslong rally in Pakistan's capital has expired, but authorities extended it for 24 hours to avoid a crackdown.
The deadline was set for Saturday morning after a court asked the rally organizers — the Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah party — to end the protest that has disrupted life in Islamabad.
Before dawn, police surrounded Islamabad's Faizabad crossing, where demonstrators have camped out.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The protesters want the removal of law minister Zahid Hamid over a recently omitted reference to the Prophet Muhammad in a bill.
Hamid has apologized, saying it was a clerical mistake that stands corrected.
Rally organizers say they will not end protest until Hamid is fired and the rally is viewed as a challenge to the government.