LAHORE - Religious parties held countrywide protests on Friday against the Pope Benedict XVI for repealing the blasphemy law and vowed to continue the protest drive till Popes unconditional apology and dissolution of the parliamentary committee reviewing the Islamic laws. Leaders of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) a protest demonstration in front of Lahore Press Club, which was led by Pir Ajmal Gilani and participated by a good number of people. They chanted anti-Pope slogans and were carrying placards and banners inscribed with demands for no amendments in the blasphemy laws and continuing the struggle till the end of this issue. The leaders of SIC warned that Pope Benedict had challenged the very pillars of Islam and his outrageous act could endanger the security of Christians living in Pakistan and other Muslim countries. They said the Pope had in fact exposed the hands pulling strings of the organised campaign against the blasphemy law in Pakistan. The SIC leaders said that Islam provided the best security and rights to religious minorities, while the religious liberties and identity of Muslim minorities were suppressed in liberal Europe and the US. Wafaqul Madaris-al-Arabiya leadership demanded of the government to expel Vaticans ambassador and call back Pakistani ambassador unless the Pope tendered unconditional apology. In a joint statement following a protest meeting, the leadership of Wafaqul Madaris warned that Popes demand was a conspiracy to endanger world peace by igniting religious clashes between Muslims and Christians.