Pakistan protests organized via Facebook

LAHORE, Pakistan, May 31 (UPI) -- An anti-militant protester in Pakistan says text messages and the social networking Web site Facebook are being used to organize demonstrations.

Pakistan national Sadaffe Abid said she and her fellow protesters have organized two rallies in as many months to oppose the violent actions of the Taliban that have plagued their country for years, The Sunday Times of London reported.

"I told them we should come out on to the streets to protest against these militants," Abid, 35, said of a suicide bombing Wednesday in the city of Lahore. "This bomb was meant to turn public opinion against the army operation to clear the Taliban from Swat, and we shouldn't give in."

The demonstrations come as Taliban forces have been blamed for a recent rash of suicide bombings in Pakistan.

Asma Jahangir, the leading human rights activist in Pakistan, told The Times the upsurge in anti-militant support from the public is a welcome change.

"It's a huge change," Jahangir said. "For a long time it felt like we were the only ones raising voices against these militants while the rest of country remained silent and we were labeled anti-Pakistan. I just hope it's not too late."