20 Killed, Dozens Injured in Pakistan Protests Over Anti-Islam Film (Photos)

(Check It Out! Pictures!) ISLAMABAD, Pakistan- At least 20 people declared dead and more than 150 were injured after demonstrators torched movie houses, police cars, and American fast food restaurants as their protest against the controversial anti-Islam film ‘The Innocence of Muslims’ in Karachi, Pakistan on Friday, Sept 21, 2012.

Based on reports, two policemen and a cable channel's employee from Karachi and Peshawar were among the dead. The protesters were able to stop by the authorities before reaching the US consulate. Some critics says, Pakistan government declared “Day of Love for the Prophet Muhammad” is a way to divert the attention from its failure to provide basic services.

According to Akbar Saeed Farooqi, spokesman for a religious organization that helped organize demonstrations, said, "Our heart is crying bloody tears. We can bear everything but disrespect to our Prophet and Koran.”

News columnist Mehreen Zahra-Malik said, “This was a terrible idea. It was time to calm people down and not give a stamp of approval to protesters, many of whom would just use it as an excuse for violence. . . . There was clearly going to be violence.”

Images courtesy of AP.