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.
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.
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.
Later, 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.
‘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.
Karachi traffic police informed X commuters that routes around 4K Chowrangi were blocked due to protest by a “religious group”.
