Large-scale protests by Pakistan’s hardline Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) descended into violence in Lahore on Friday, leading to casualties, injuries to dozens of police officers, and the blockade of major routes to Islamabad.
TLP chief Saad Rizvi claimed that Punjab police killed at least 11 party workers during clashes, with more than two dozen injured. He also alleged that multiple injured workers were denied medical treatment. These claims could not be independently verified, and police authorities have not confirmed any deaths from their operations, News 18 reported.
How The Violence Unfolded
The confrontation began after Friday prayers when thousands of TLP supporters launched what the group called a “Gaza March” from the party’s headquarters on Multan Road in Lahore. The procession, led by Rizvi, drew supporters chanting religious slogans and carrying sticks, rods, and bricks.
Police attempted to stop the march by erecting barricades and deploying tear gas at key intersections, including Yateem Khana Chowk, Chauburji, Azadi Chowk, and Shahdara. However, protesters broke through multiple barriers and continued advancing toward the capital.
Eyewitnesses reported that some TLP supporters occupied sections of the Orange Line Metro track and threw stones at security forces, injuring several police officers.
Escalation And Property Damage
Footage circulating on social media appeared to show protesters commandeering government vehicles, including cranes belonging to the Lahore Waste Management Company and Punjab Police, to use in the procession.
The clashes intensified near Lahore’s Azadi Chowk, where several police vehicles were damaged and multiple officers were injured. Videos on social media showed law enforcement personnel firing tear gas and warning shots to disperse crowds, while some officers were seen retreating to safety.
Lahore police reported that dozens of officers sustained injuries during the confrontations. The TLP maintained that many of its workers were also hurt and repeated its allegations of fatalities from police firing, though these claims remain unverified.
Legal Action And Custody
Amid the unrest, an anti-terrorism court in Lahore remanded 110 TLP activists to police custody for 12 days on charges of attacking officers and damaging public property during the protest.
The FIR filed by Nawankot Police accuses the group of opening fire and resorting to violence against law enforcement personnel, accusations the TLP has denied.
Government Response
Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, accused the TLP of exploiting issues for political purposes and warned that the government would not tolerate violence.
“Peaceful protest within the democratic and constitutional framework is a constitutional right,” Chaudhry told media in Islamabad. “But there is no space for groups to blackmail others, use mobs, or resort to violence to achieve their demands.”
Authorities responded to the unrest by blocking roads leading to Islamabad and reportedly suspending internet services in the capital to prevent further mobilization.
Context: TLP’s History Of Street Mobilization
The TLP, founded in 2015, is a hardline Islamist party known for mobilizing large-scale street protests that have frequently paralyzed major Pakistani cities. The group has repeatedly clashed with authorities over religious and political issues in recent years.
The organization gained prominence through its aggressive stance on blasphemy laws and has demonstrated its ability to bring thousands of supporters onto the streets, often leading to violent confrontations with security forces.
Current Situation
By late Friday night, tensions remained high across Punjab province, with authorities maintaining heavy security along main routes to Islamabad to prevent further escalation.
(With ANI Inputs)