ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s powerful military warned on Friday its patience had been thoroughly tested after being threatened by hardliners enraged at the acquittal of a Christian woman for blasphemy, as thousands joined mass protests.

Spokesman Asif Ghafoor said the armed forces’ tolerance had been pushed after hardliners called for a mutiny against its top brass earlier this week in response to the Supreme Court’s dismissal of blasphemy charges against Asia Bibi — ending her eight-year ordeal on death row.

Mobile services in major cities across Pakistan remained down throughout the day as religious parties took to the streets for another day of demonstrations against the Supreme Court’s decision.

“We are tolerating remarks against us but action can be taken according to the law and constitution,” the spokesman told state media, saying he hoped that the dispute “would be resolved through negotiations peacefully”.

“Don’t force us into taking action,” he added.

The protests are being largely led by the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan party, which is known for its hardline stance on blasphemy issues.

Officials said talks with the protesters were ongoing ahead of nationwide protests that kicked off after Friday prayers — a time when the size of demonstrations can often swell.

TLP leaders, however, have said negotiations with authorities were “deadlocked” and vowed to continue holding sit-ins.

“They have threatened to kill us with bullets, so we have formally decided that we will stay and will not be frightened by any threat,” TLP leader Afzal Qadri told supporters in Lahore.

Several mainstream religious parties also held separate demonstrations in major cities following prayers, with thousands of demonstrators converging near government offices in the capital Islamabad.

Protesters chanted “hang the blasphemer” and “hang the judges” as they marched through the capital in the absence of a heavy security presence.

“The entire country is protesting because this decision was made under international pressure,” protester Abdul Rauf said.

Analysts say the government is hesitant to clamp down on the groups, fearing any heavy-handed move could spark a violent backlash similar to the insurrection spurred by a military crackdown on Islamabad’s Red Mosque in 2007.

“They are threatening the government, the judiciary and the army but it seems the government and military are reluctant because they fear backlash,” said analyst Fasi Zaka.

Since Wednesday’s verdict, the TLP has been holding sit-ins in cities across the country with supporters blocking major traffic thoroughfares, causing gridlock and school closures in key hubs like Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi.

Major highways — including the motorway connecting Lahore and Islamabad — were also blocked, effectively paralyzing swathes of the country.

Segments of the business community remained supportive of the protests even as it brought the country to a standstill.

TLP, founded in 2015, blockaded the capital Islamabad for several weeks last year calling for stricter enforcement of Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws.

That protest forced the resignation of the federal law minister and paved the way for the group to poll more than 2.23 million votes in the July 25 general election, in what analysts called a “surprisingly” rapid rise.

The protests come after Prime Minister Imran Khan issued a forceful rebuke to the TLP in a nationally televised address in the ruling’s wake, saying the government would not tolerate violent protests. — AFP