Pakistan is to outlaw a hardline Islamist group that railed against blasphemy on its rise to prominence, a minister said on Wednesday, the third day of violent protests by the group in which two police officers have been killed and 340 wounded.

The government said it has also arrested 1,400 workers of the group that is agitating against the arrest of its chief ahead of countrywide rallies to denounce the publication of cartoons in Franc.

Paramilitary troops were deployed overnight to clear the protests by the Tehrik-i-Labaik Pakistan, which has blocked rail tracks, highways and entry and exit routes to all major cities. An Islamist was also killed in the protests.