• Protesters unable to move forward due to large trenches dug up along GT Road
• DIG says SPs, SHOs among 112 wounded in clashes with marchers
• TLP claims 11 supporters killed, over 50 injured in police firing
• Police raid Saad Rizvi’s house, ‘recover cash and valuables’
• Maulana Fazl contacts Maryam and Sanaullah, urges dialogue with agitators

LAHORE: The main procession of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) reached Muridke as part of its “Gaza March” after bulldozing all police security measures a few hours after the provincial capital witnessed another round of intense violence early on Saturday, leaving more than four dozen police personnel injured, many of them critically.

The TLP marchers staged a sit-in at Muridke as they were unable to move forward due to large trenches dug by the district administration along the main GT Road.

Fresh clashes broke out at Shahdara, on the outskirts of Lahore, where violent TLP supporters attacked police, leaving nearly 50 officers with bruises and serious injuries.

The religious outfit, on the other hand, claimed that 11 of its supporters were killed and over 50 injured when police resorted to live fire.

Sources said the hours-long clashes erupted after police launched a crackdown on TLP workers following reports that the mob had allegedly kidnapped and tortured some policemen at Shahdara, heightening tensions among senior police officials.

Following the operation, charged protesters armed with batons and broken bricks — brought on trolleys and trucks — repeatedly attacked the anti-riot force.

According to the sources, TLP workers also vandalised public property and damaged vehicles parked along roads and in local markets.

Police used heavy tear gas shelling to disperse the mobs as they tried to damage metro bus stations. Witnesses said the protesters scattered into nearby streets and attacked police from rooftops of houses, shops and plazas, seriously injuring several officers.

They added that the TLP activists appeared well-trained, wearing bags filled with bricks and sharp-edged weapons used to inflict deep wounds during clashes with the police. Many were seen throwing back tear gas shells fired by police and using other tactics to force law enforcers to retreat.

During the hours-long confrontation, TLP activists pushed police back to their earlier positions and took control of Shahdara’s main road. Disturbing videos on social media showed policemen lying in pools of blood after being beaten by the mob.

“Some 112 Lahore police personnel, including SPs and SHOs, have been injured,” DIG (operations) Fai­sal Kamran told reporters on Satu­rday. He said most injuries occurred during the early morning clashes when TLP’s mob turned violent and attacked security personnel.

The agitators allegedly kidnapped several policemen, many of whom were still missing, damaged and snatched police and other government vehicles. Raising anti-state slogans, they attacked police buildings, occupied them and damaged infrastructure.

“We have arrested many of them who were armed with lethal weapons,” DIG Kamran said, adding that the TLP protesters blocked roads, disrupted transport and occupied metro bus tracks and stations, causing severe inconvenience to the public. “We received at least 15 calls from citizens reporting that protesters had stolen their vehicles,” he said.

Offering an olive branch, DIG Kamran added that police were open to talks: “But if you continue to inconvenience the public and vandalise property, then the state is ready to deal with the situation.”

In a statement on X along with a video clip showing Palestinians distributing sweets and celebrating Gaza ceasefire, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif questioned the rationale behind protests still being held in Pakistan.

“For two years, the people of Gaza have endured immense suffering, including the mass killing of children. The world stood up in protest — and a large number of those voices came from non-Muslim countries,” Asif said.

Referring to TLP march towards Islamabad, he said, “Now that both Israel and Hamas have signed a ceasefire agreement and the fighting has stopped, these protesters have taken to GT Road and are marching on Islamabad. It’s unfair that no one informed them the war is over. What are they protesting for now? Go home. Palestinians are eating sweets — we are holding protests.”

The Punjab police also posted a statement on X questioning the TLP’s motives for the protest. Footage attached to the post showed policemen being thrashed.

Police warned that anyone taking the law into their own hands would be dealt with an iron fist and urged the public to avoid supporting “mischievous elements”, stay alert to misinformation and cooperate with authorities.

Sources said TLP workers have staged a sit-in at Muridke city, unable to move forward due to trenches dug by the district administration along the main GT Road. TLP chief Saad Rizvi dire­cted his workers to stay there overnight and await further instructions.

Meanwhile, police raided the residence of Saad Rizvi on Multan Road and reportedly recovered a large amount of cash, expensive wristwat­ches, and ornaments. A video clip circulating on social media showed money concealed inside a cupboard.

Senior police officials, however, were reluctant to share details of the raid.

Two more trenches dug up

Local authorities dug two more trenches along the GT Road near Gujrat to block the TLP protesters from marching towards Isla­mabad. Earlier, similar trenches were made at three other key locations in the district.

Police have also booked at least 50 TLP activists for attacking a police party near the Jhelum River bridge in Sara-i-Alamgir town of Gujrat.

A case has been registered at Sara-i-Alamgir City Police Station against seven nominated TLP officials and over 40 unidentified accomplices under Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) and sections 324, 427, 186, and 148 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on the complaint of a police officer. The suspects were accused of attacking the police party deployed at the Jhelum bridge with iron rods, clubs and stones.

Bridges at Shahbazpur and Khanki Headworks — linking Guj­rat with Sialkot, Wazirabad and Guj­r­anwala — have also been closed, causing major inconvenience to commuters.

Several expatriate Pakistanis travelling to Sialkot and Lahore airports from Gujrat were stranded due to the road blockades. The supply of fresh vegetables and fruits to local markets was also disrupted.

Trucks carrying industrial consignments to and from Gujrat were affected as well. The local business community has urged authorities to clear the blockades and restore smooth traffic flow.

JUI-F chief steps in With the TLP protest march gaining momentum, JUI-F chief Mau­l­­ana Fazlur Rehman has launched efforts to defuse the crisis, initiating contact with key government figures to encourage dialogue and restraint.

Party sources said the JUI-F chief held a telephonic conversation with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, during which he discussed the prevailing situation in detail and advised that the TLP protest issue should be resolved through dialogue.

He also spoke to prime minister’s adviser Rana Sanaullah and stressed that the country cannot afford confrontation at this stage. Maulana Fazl appealed to both the government and the protesters to exercise patience and restraint. According to the JUI-F sources, following his request, preliminary negotiations between the government and TLP have begun.

The JUI-F chief advised the Punjab government to show restraint, telling the chief minister that “the issue should be settled amicably — all parties should sit together to find a solution and avoid causing further inconvenience to the public”. He reiterated that dialogue is the best way to address political and religious issues and urged all stakeholders to prioritise peace and stability in the country.

Waseem Ashraf Butt in Gujrat and Kalbe Ali in Islamabad also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2025