Violent clashes in Lahore as TLP pro-Gaza protesters march toward US Embassy
PTC Web Desk: Violent clashes erupted on Friday between police and Islamists in Lahore as security forces attempted to stop thousands of protesters from leaving for Islamabad. Protesters, led by the Islamist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party, staged a pro-Gaza rally outside the US Embassy in the capital.
The unrest, which began on Thursday in the Punjab province, escalated as the police used batons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators, who retaliated by throwing stones. According to TLP, two of its supporters have been killed and around 50 injured since Thursday. The Punjab provincial government, headed by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has yet to issue a statement.
TLP chief Saad Rizvi, addressing thousands during Friday prayers in Lahore, announced the march to Islamabad, saying, “We will now march from Lahore to the US Embassy in Islamabad. Arrest is not a problem, bullets are not a problem, shells are not a problem — martyrdom is our destiny.”
The police deployed batons and tear gas near TLP’s main office, affecting residents in nearby areas. The violence disrupted daily life in Lahore, with schools, colleges, and universities closed on Friday. To prevent protesters from reaching Islamabad, the federal government suspended mobile internet services in the capital and nearby Rawalpindi. Shipping containers were also placed along highways leading to the city. Lahore is approximately 350 km (210 miles) from Islamabad.
The protests followed a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, brokered by US President Donald Trump. Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry stated on Thursday that the TLP had not sought permission for the rally. The party, however, denied this claim, saying it had requested approval for a peaceful march in support of the Palestinian cause.
Residents questioned the need for protests after a ceasefire, highlighting the disruption caused by the unrest.
- With inputs from agencies
