LAHORE: The Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) march toward Islamabad descended into chaos on Friday, as violent clashes between supporters and police paralysed parts of Lahore and forced authorities to dig trenches and seal major routes in Gujrat district to contain the procession.
The march, led by TLP chief Saad Rizvi, was launched after Friday prayers as part of the group’s so-called “Gaza March.” Despite heavy police deployment, barricades, and the use of tear gas, thousands of supporters pushed through Multan Road, chanting religious slogans and defying containment efforts.
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Police attempted to hold the group near the party’s headquarters by erecting containers and barriers, but the crowd advanced after Rizvi’s fiery sermon at the central mosque. Witnesses reported violent scuffles near Yateem Khana Chowk, Chauburji, Bhati Gate, Azadi Chowk, and Ravi Bridge (Shahdara). “Protesters hurled stones, carried sticks and rods, and even occupied sections of the Orange Line track,” witnesses said, as police responded with tear gas and warning shots.
Videos circulating online showed protesters commandeering cranes and vehicles belonging to government departments including the Lahore Waste Management Company, Rescue 1122, and Punjab Police to use in their procession.
By evening, Multan Road had turned into a battlefield, with several police vehicles damaged, officers injured, and some temporarily taken hostage. Social media footage showed bloodied officers retreating for cover, while the TLP claimed its supporters were also injured—alleging, without verification, that some had died from police fire. Authorities accused TLP-linked accounts of circulating old or misleading videos to inflame tensions.
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In Gujrat, authorities sealed key bridges and dug trenches to stop the march from progressing toward the capital. Bridges over the Chenab and Jhelum rivers were blocked with heavy vehicles, while new trenches were created near Sarai Alamgir, Wazirabad, and Kharian, effectively cutting off vehicular access.
A senior official said more blockades could be created if the march crosses Gujranwala. Pedestrian crossings remained open but were expected to close if the situation worsened. Local businesses and commuters have been severely affected, with traffic halted, events postponed, and trade disrupted. Traders urged the government to develop a long-term strategy to handle such protests “without paralyzing cities.”
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State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry condemned the TLP’s actions, saying the government “will not allow anyone to use violence or blackmail the state.” “Peaceful protest is a constitutional right, but there is no space for mob violence,” he told reporters in Islamabad, adding that hundreds of suspects had already been arrested. He said the government had opted for “minimum use of force” despite identifying over 2,000 potential agitators.
Meanwhile, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) remanded 110 TLP activists to police custody for 12 days in connection with attacks on law enforcers and damage to public property. The accused include several senior party workers such as Qari Umar Farooq and Basharat Ali, with police directed to report back after interrogation.