Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi has been critically injured after being shot multiple times, according to the party’s spokesperson.
Officials from the TLP confirmed that Rizvi was struck by three bullets and remains in critical condition. He was swiftly taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors are working to stabilize him. Authorities have not yet disclosed details about the location of the attack or those responsible for it.
The incident has further intensified tensions across Punjab, with the TLP reporting widespread clashes between its supporters and security forces.
According to party representatives, over 250 TLP workers and leaders have been killed, while more than 1,500 have sustained injuries in recent confrontations. Many of the wounded are said to be in serious condition, as violence continues to erupt in various districts.
Earlier on Sunday, heavy contingents of Pakistan Rangers and police from five districts surrounded the TLP protest camp in Muridke, apparently to prevent the group’s planned march toward Islamabad.
Security forces erected barricades, blocked key routes, and dug trenches to contain the protesters. Reports indicate that at least two attempts by demonstrators to break through the cordon were thwarted by law enforcement personnel.
In response to the escalating situation, police and Rangers were placed on high alert, and senior officers were instructed to remain on standby for rapid deployment. Partial mobile data services were restored in Rawalpindi and Islamabad following preliminary negotiations with TLP leaders in Lahore, suggesting ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Meanwhile, authorities have detained around 170 TLP members across Sahiwal, Pakpattan, and Okara divisions under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law. Those arrested include party officials, workers, and activists as the government attempts to maintain order and prevent further unrest following the attack on Rizvi.
