Normalcy returned to the twin cities on Monday evening, with traffic flow restored after an early morning operation by law enforcement agencies against Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protesters who had camped in Muridke, according to police.
TO sunrise.com The correspondent reported that only the Faizabad junction remained closed while the rest of the intersections between Rawalpindi and Islamabad were open for traffic. He said the situation was returning to normal and there was no serious reaction from the religious party, adding that traffic was generally light on the main roads.
Mobile data services, affected since the beginning of the protest, were also restored in most areas of the twin cities, the correspondent added.
Earlier, authorities had decided to close roads and highways again in and around Lahore and Islamabad, which had started reopening on Sunday, following the operation, as panic spread among citizens over the possible outcome of the clash. Meanwhile, some schools in Islamabad also closed earlier than usual.
The TLP, which began its protest march in Lahore on Friday, planned to reach Islamabad and organize a rally in support of Gaza and Palestine in front of the US embassy. On Sunday, law enforcement agencies, including the Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) and large contingents of police from five districts, were sent to Muridke and reportedly surrounded the TLP protest camp, in what appeared to be preparations for a large-scale operation.
Police action again TLP
A senior police official, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed to sunrise.com Today the police action to disperse the Muridke protesters began at 3 in the morning and lasted six hours.
Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. Usman Anwar confirmed that sunrise.com that TLP chief Saad Rizvi had not been arrested or injured in this morning’s clash.
Earlier, Punjab Police spokesperson Mubashir Hussain said that a Station House Officer (SHO) was martyred during the clash and three TLP workers were killed.
On the other hand, Punjab Police also published in X about the martyrdom of a SHO in “shooting by armed groups” in Sheikhupura, the district where Muridke is located. The police, however, did not name the TLP.
The statement in
Hussain said 48 law enforcement officers were injured in the clash, 17 of whom suffered gunshot wounds, while eight citizens also sustained injuries. In addition, he stated that a bystander also died in the incident.
The Punjab Police later posted in X that the injured police personnel were receiving medical treatment.
Hussain claimed that when law enforcement personnel moved to disperse the protesters, TLP members attacked them with stones, nail-studded batons and “gasoline bombs.” They later opened fire, he said, adding that lives were lost during the shooting.
“Law enforcement personnel had to initiate limited action in their defense,” Hussain said, further accusing TLP protesters of setting fire to 40 government and private vehicles.
He said police had also arrested several protesters. Authorities have been arresting TLP activists since their protest began on Friday last week. Meanwhile, Lahore Deputy Inspector General of Operations (DIG) Faisal Kamran told the media on Saturday that 112 policemen had been injured so far since the start of the protest.
Earlier today, videos purportedly showing clashes between the TLP and police were circulating on social media, with images showing burnt vehicles and smoke filling the air.
It was also reported on Sunday that talks were taking place between the government and the TLP.
Rana Sanaullah denies negotiations rumors
Speaking in an interview about Geographic news Speaking on the ‘Capital Talk’ programme, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said that to his knowledge there were no negotiations with the TLP although contacts were established from both sides.
He said the party was asked to call off the protest during the contacts mentioned above, but it was unsuccessful and violence came into the picture.
“There were no demands. They just wanted to take a long march, come to Islamabad and appear before a foreign embassy, which was not acceptable to the government.”
Karachi police resort to tear gas shelling, arrest five TLP workers
As in other parts of the country, the TLP also demonstrated in certain areas of Karachi against police action at its party’s main protest in Muridke, and the Sindh police resorted to tear gas shelling and arrested some of them.
Police said the main protest rallies were held in North Karachi and New Karachi respectively.
Western Zone Deputy Inspector General of Police Irfan Ali Baloch said. sunrise.com that TLP workers staged sit-ins at two places at 4-K Chowrangi in North Karachi and Sindhi Hotel in New Karachi respectively.
He said they allegedly blocked main roads, causing traffic disruptions. He said TLP workers allegedly attacked police with stones, injuring two officers, when police tried to disperse them.
“The police resorted to tear gas shelling and arrested five of them,” he said, adding that all roads were cleared for traffic.
Meanwhile, the Sindh Home Department issued a statement urging citizens of Karachi to “ignore rumors about chaos” in the metropolis.
“Immediate action should be taken against those spreading rumours,” the statement said, quoting Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, who was speaking on the phone to Karachi’s additional inspector general.
“Those who violate the court order should be dealt with under Section 144,” he added.
According to the statement, Lanjar ordered police personnel stationed throughout the city to remain alert and riot squads to remain on alert.
“Police operations should be stricter in potentially sensitive areas and points,” said the minister. “Staff assigned to monitor the city should be kept on high alert and as soon as a crowd or disruptive activity is reported anywhere in the city, senior officers should be alerted immediately.”
At least 100 TLP activists remain in preventive detention for 11 days
An anti-terrorism court remanded more than 100 TLP activists on charges of vandalism and assaulting police.
At the hearing, presided over by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul, police produced 100 activists before the court. They had been booked in multiple cases filed at different police stations. Nawan Kot police station registered cases against 62 activists.
‘Treason and terrorism’
Commenting on the TLP protest during a press conference today, Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari said it was the government’s responsibility to protect people’s lives and properties. And the government cannot avoid this responsibility, he added.
He further stated that “blocking roads and creating inconvenience to citizens, especially when peace has been restored in Gaza and people are happy there, trying to stop the country and taking justice into their own hands is unacceptable.”
On the other hand, a post on the Punjab government’s account pass as victims”.
The post also had a video showing masked men causing property damage and engaging in violence.
Lawyers’ bodies condemn the “violence” against TLP
The Lahore Bar Association announced that it will go on strike today starting at 11am and boycott court proceedings over the arrests and alleged dismissals of TLP workers.
The bar association announced the strike in a press release, noting that “unarmed” TLP leaders and protesters had been injured in alleged firing by police and Rangers in Muridke. Furthermore, he claimed, TLP protesters were arrested in large numbers.
The lawyers’ body condemned these acts, calling for legal action against those responsible.
On the other hand, the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) also issued a condemnation in a press release, highlighting that every citizen had the right to protest.
“The way in which peaceful and [political] Workers were being sacked and blood was shed at the behest of the Pakistani government, which is not befitting a democratic country,” the LHCBA said, stressing that the issues must be resolved through negotiations.
The LHCBA also demanded action against those who “inflicted violence” on protesters and called for the release of detained protesters.
Road closures
TO sunrise.com A correspondent in Islamabad reported that road blocks around the Faizabad junction, the key intersection between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, had been removed. But most roads in the area were closed again after panic began to spread around 11am.
For now, only Islamabad Expressway is open in Faizabad, he said.
The correspondent said mobile internet in the federal capital was working but there were reports of service suspension and slow internet speed in some areas of Rawalpindi. Mobile Internet service had been suspended in the Twin Cities before Friday’s TLP protest, but was later partially restored.
He also reported that some schools in the capital had closed earlier than usual today. The school, he said, sent messages to parents about the development, citing a possible “law and order” situation.
Ghulam Abbas, a resident of Margalla town in Islamabad, said sunrise.com She could feel the panic even when she dropped her children off at school at 9 in the morning.
“And suddenly, we received messages from schools about half-day schedules. They said that students should leave school as early as possible, since the school would close early.
“I had to rush to pick up my children… Panic also caused traffic congestion. Now I came to know that Faizabad is closed again. Luckily, I passed that route in time.”
Meanwhile, a sunrise.com A correspondent in Lahore reported that the authorities had closed the M-2 highway, which connects Lahore with Islamabad, the M-3 highway, which connects Lahore with Abdul Hakeem area in Khanewal and the M-11 highway, which connects Sialkot with Lahore.
