Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Faisal Kamran said that 112 policemen had been injured and several others are missing following violent protests by a religious-political group that erupted across Lahore three days ago.
He said there is credible information and video evidence suggesting that protesters had taken some police personnel hostage, while widespread vandalism, looting, and destruction of public and private property had been reported.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, DIG Faisal Kamran said that the protests began over a nominal issue but quickly turned violent, disrupting law and order across the provincial capital. “Whenever this nation begins to move towards progress and stability, certain groups working on hidden agendas attempt to create unrest. This so-called protest was started on a baseless issue, and instead of dialogue or peaceful negotiation, the organizers resorted to violence,” he said.
The DIG said police and government officials repeatedly tried to engage the leadership of the protesting group through dialogue. “We kept all doors of negotiation open, offering multiple peaceful alternatives, but they refused to cooperate or adopt any course that would protect the city and its citizens,” he added.
According to DIG Kamran, hundreds of police personnel sustained injuries during the violent confrontations, while several remain hospitalized. Some police officials and constables are still missing, and videos circulating on social media show protesters parading injured or captured policemen, he said. “It is deeply regrettable that individuals working to maintain law and order are being held hostage, and the perpetrators are boasting about it online,” he remarked.
He said that the protesters vandalized police stations, government buildings, and public transport infrastructure, including the Shahdara Town Police Station and Orange Line Metro stations. “They climbed onto the Orange Line station, damaging the structure and celebrating as if they had achieved a great victory,” he said, terming the incidents a “complete disregard for the law and public property.”
He added that vehicles belonging to LWMC, WASA, Rescue 1122, and Suthra Punjab were among those destroyed or seized by the mobs. Citizens, he noted, have flooded helplines with reports of snatching, looting, and road blockades. “At Shahdara Town Police Station, 18 motorcycles of on-duty officers were forcibly taken away. These acts are no less than organized robberies,” he said.
The DIG said the protests have paralyzed routine life in Lahore, with citizens unable to reach hospitals, workplaces, or schools due to containers and barricades set up by demonstrators. “Ordinary citizens are the real victims. Roads have been blocked, vehicles damaged, and daily life brought to a standstill,” he lamented.
To a question, he confirmed that over 100 suspects have been arrested so far and that separate FIRs are being registered for each area where vandalism, theft, or attacks on police occurred. “We have complete CCTV and video evidence of their actions, and every individual involved will be held accountable,” he stated.
The DIG emphasized that police, as the frontline force for internal security, are working closely with other state institutions to restore peace. “We have largely cleared the city of these violent elements, and efforts are ongoing to minimize damage and stabilize the situation,” he said.
The DIG said, the right to protest is guaranteed in Pakistan, but violence, vandalism, and looting cannot be tolerated under any circumstance. The police and state institutions are united in protecting the people and maintaining peace, even at the cost of our lives. He said that the state will continue to engage in dialogue where possible, but those who attack citizens, damage property, or challenge the writ of the state will face strict legal action. We will not allow anyone to hold the city hostage or disrupt the peace of ordinary citizens, he asserted.