Carrying placards and chanting slogans on Sunday, the protesters demanded the ban to be lifted.

They also asked for better security for pilgrims going to the holy places in Iran and Iraq through Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province.

«We have staged this sit-in protest to urge the government to reopen the road route to Iran…» a protester said.

«We will not conclude our protest until the government decides positively about our demands,» he added.

Pakistani pilgrims have frequently come under terrorist attacks including bombings while going to or returning from Iran. Many of them have been killed.

The main suspects behind such acts of terror are Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and other militant groups operating in Pakistan.

On June 8, unknown gunmen attacked a bus transporting Pakistani pilgrims returning from a visit to holy Islamic sites in Iran, killing at least 23 people and wounding seven others.

According to Pakistani officials, the bus had stopped at the border town when the attack happened.

They added that some security personnel were among the casualties.

Pakistani troops have been fighting against pro-Taliban militants in recent months.

Numerous attacks have been carried out against Pakistani security forces and civilians by militants in the country.

Militants have managed to spread their influence in various regions of Pakistan, despite sporadic offensives by the Pakistani army.

Thousands of Pakistanis have lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001, when Pakistan entered an alliance with the United States on the so-called war on terror.

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http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/06/15/367116/pakistanis-protest-iran-travel-ban/