LAHORE - The anger and resentment against the blasphemous caricatures on the Facebook and Youtube by some western countries is intensifying despite apology and boycott of the websites. Different parts of the country including the provincial metropolis witnessed protests and rallies on Wednesday by religious, political, social and academic circles. Protest demonstrations were staged at Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Data Darbar, Lahore Press Club, Minar-e-Pakistan and other places and protest rallies would also be organised on Friday after Juma prayers at all major mosques in the city. Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam remained close for most part of the day due to protest rallies. The demonstrators demanded punishment to the authors of the profane caricatures and stoppage of such heinous acts in future. In Lahore different religious, political, social and trader organizations on Wednesday held protest rallies against the blasphemous cartoons on the website at various places in the metropolis. Tehrik-e-Hurmat-e-Rasool (THR) has given call for holding rallies on Friday (tomorrow). The THR organised conferences in this regard last day where a large number of people from various walks of life participated. Addressing the conferences religious leaders including Ameer Hamza and others said that they would not stop protests until the accused of blasphemy were punished according to Islamic Sharia. They demanded of the government to send on exile the ambassadors of the countries who were involved in blasphemy. Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat Mahaz (TNRM) took out a rally form Darbar to Masjid-e-Shohada. Different trader associations including Anjuman Tajran Lahore, Anjuman Tajran Hafeez Centre, Anjuman Tajran Vegetable Market and Mall Road Association participated while a large number of civil society, students and lawyers also participated in the protest. The large number of youth participated in the rally, which shows they can give any sacrifice for the respect of Holy Prophet (PBUH). It was also a devotion and commitment in the youth to protect their faith and respect. On the occasion, President TNRM Allam Raza-e-Mustafa Naqshbandi and others said that the government did not take any serious steps about the issue and it was shameful for an Islamic state. The protesters demanded of the government to take stern stand against the States involved in this evil act and also urged the people to boycott the products of these countries. In another protest demonstration at Kot Abdul Malik, speakers while addressing said the government was silent on the issue because of their vested interests. In this regard a rally staged by Punjab National Party started from Mall Road wherein the protesters chanted slogans against the governments of US, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. A meeting of Punjab University Academic Staff Association was held under the chairmanship Prof Dr Abdul Ghaffar. The ASA members strongly condemned and denounced the blasphemous caricatures competition and demanded a permanent ban on Facebook and Youtube, so as to uphold the honour of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).