The latest cover of French satire magazine Charlie Hebdo - which breaks an Islam taboo of not showing Prophet Mohammed's image - is in the crosshairs of Pakistani Islamist militants, who called on their followers not to buy French goods.

The founder of the Pakistani Islamist group Lashkar e Taiba, Hafiz Saeed, told thousands of protesters he is leading a campaign against what he sees as insulting caricatures of the Muslim prophet.

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Lashkar e Taiba has been blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks and several other attacks in India.

On Sunday, thousands gathered in big cities in Pakistan - including the capital Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore - screaming in protest and setting fire to French flags. In Lahore alone, about 5,000 people took to the streets to protest against the French magazine.

The Lashkar founder told businessmen to stop importing French goods and asked the Pakistani government to propose an international law against blasphemy.

Last week, a new edition of Charlie Hebdo featured an image of the Prophet Mohammed shedding tears on its cover week after two triggermen killed 12 people in the magazine offices. The attackers said they were avenging the prophet for published cartoons mocking Islam.

Protests swept several Muslim countries after the magazine responded to the attack on its offices by publishing another caricature last week, showing the Muslim holy man with the text "All Is Forgiven."

About 2.7 million copies of the weekly's post-attack edition have been sold in France alone. The magazine plans to print seven million copies more, a far cry from its usual reach of 60,000.

French President Francois Hollande urged the French not to change their habits because of the terrorist attacks, reiterating that France is committed to protecting freedom of expression.

TagsCharlie Hebdo, boycott, French products, Pakistani militants, Lashkar e Taiba, Hafiz Saeed