Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protesters, who had camped in Muridke after authorities blocked their route to Islamabad by digging trenches, were dispersed on Monday after clashing with law enforcement personnel, according to police.
Authorities decided to close roads and highways again in and around Lahore and Islamabad, which had begun reopening on Sunday, after panic spread among citizens over the possible outcome of the clash. Meanwhile, some schools in Islamabad also closed earlier than usual time.
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.
Confirming today that the protesters had been dispersed, Punjab Police spokesperson Mubashir Hussain said that a Station House Officer (SHO) was martyred during the clash and three TLP members 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.
He claimed that when law enforcement personnel moved to disperse 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.
Previously, videos purportedly showing clashes between the TLP and police circulated on social media, with images showing burnt vehicles and smoke filling the air.
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 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 got messages from schools about half-day schedules. They said students should leave school as early as possible because 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 Dawn.com correspondent in Lahore reported that authorities had closed the M-2 highway, which connects Lahore to Islamabad, the M-3 highway, which connects Lahore to Abdul Hakeem area in Khanewal and the M-11 highway, which connects Sialkot to Lahore.
More to follow
