Violent clashes broke out between police and Islamic organization Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Lahore on Saturday. The reason behind this violence was the security forces’ attempt to stop the protesters from marching towards the capital. The protesters were organizing a pro-Palestinian rally. The protest turned violent as they tried to stop it. Calling the Punjab Police ‘Israeli goons’, Tehreek-e-Labbaik claimed that the police opened indiscriminate firing on the protesters, in which 11 of its members were killed and more than 50 injured. 11 TLP members were killed in the violent clash between the police and the TLP since this morning due to shelling and firing.
TLP protesters in Pakistan have been holding rallies since Thursday to protest against the killings by Israel in Gaza. On Saturday, they were marching towards the capital when the police stopped them and the movement turned violent. The police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. They also lathi-charged the protesters. In response, the protesters pelted stones at the police. More than a dozen policemen were injured. The violent clash took place near Lahore’s Azadi Chowk. Several police vehicles were set on fire. Several officers were injured.
In many areas, the police had erected barricades and placed shipping containers to prevent thousands of TLP protesters, led by the organization’s chief Saad Rizvi, from moving towards Islamabad for their demonstration near the US Embassy. Lahore is about 370 kilometers from Islamabad. But the police failed to control the protesters as they became increasingly violent. The US embassy has advised its citizens to avoid large gatherings and be aware of their surroundings.
US President Donald Trump presented a peace plan to end the two-year-old war between Israel and Hamas. The two countries agreed to the first phase of this peace agreement. The people of Israel and Hamas were jubilant with this agreement. Under this agreement, there is a provision for the release of hostages held in the custody of both countries. Pakistani Minister Talal Chaudhry accused the TLP of misusing the issue for ‘political gain’, and stressed that the government will not allow any group to use violence or blackmail the state.
