LAHORE: Troops and Rangers were called out in the area of the Tibbi Police Station here, following a clash between a group of striking policemen and the workers of the Pakistan People’s Party in the evening today [Feb 24]. The clash which resulted in one death and injuries to about 24 persons took place near the Police Station in the vicinity of the red light area. Tibbi police station, a school in Tehsil bazar and Novelty Cinema Chowk were in … control of the striking policemen following the clash till the troops took over. … The Punjab Governor, Mr. Mustafa Khar, has postponed his departure … for Rawalpindi… . The Governor … had earlier stated … that some hands were behind the police strike to create chaos in the country.

… According to eyewitnesses, the striking policemen raised slogans against the PPP. This provoked the supporters of the party … . The strike which … started at Sahiwal, Lyallpur and Pakpattan, spread to Lahore in the afternoon. … The strikers gathered at the Civil Lines police station, shouted slogans and broke windows of the various rooms. … Later they boarded two trucks and proceeded to the District Police Lines… . They also pelted stones at passing vehicles.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2022