ISLAMABAD: Thousands of followers of the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have reached near Gujranwala city today evening despite government’s decision to deploy Rangers in Punjab province.
About 4,000 TLP workers travelled on the Grand Truck Road in large trucks and buses along with their supplies. They are wielding sticks and guarding the long-march procession from all sides.
The TLP demonstrators have blocked the GT Road in Gujranwala district from both sides since Wednesday, causing hardship to the area residents in their commutes. From Kamoke tehsil to Jhelum, cellular services have been suspended for 24 hours.
Educational institutions along GT Road have also been closed because of the uncertain situation.
Meanwhile, Rangers and police personnel took positions near the Chenab river and Wazirabad border. Security officials plan to stop the TLP activists near the Wazirabad-Chenab river area instead of Gujranwala city, according to police sources.
At a high-level meeting held to review the security situation, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar directed officials to take every step possible to establish peace in the province, according to a statement.
He said nobody could be allowed to disturb people’s daily lives, stressing that “the protection of people’s lives and properties is the state’s foremost responsibility.”
In view of the situation caused by the TLP rally, the Pakistan Railways announced that three trains between Lahore and Rawalpindi — Subak Kharam, Islamabad Express and Rawal Express — would remain suspended today for both inbound and outbound services.
The Peshawar-Quetta Jaffar Express will also be suspended for the Peshawar-Lahore leg today, while the Green Line will remain suspended between Lahore and Rawalpindi.
All other trains will function according to their schedule and route, a PR spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, PML-N president and opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif criticised the government’s handling of the situation arising out of the TLP rally, saying “federal ministers are giving contradictory statements on the prevailing situation.”
He quoted a minister as saying that Prime Minister Imran Khan “was unaware of [the] 2020 agreement with TLP”.
“There is a sheer chaos & lack of leadership & the government machinery is totally clueless. This is IK’s way of governing Pakistan!!” Shehbaz wrote.
ut Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari denied his allegation, calling Shehbaz a “confused soul” and saying the person he had quoted was not a federal minister.
“There is absolutely no confusion in the govt led by the PM as the cabinet decision yesterday made abundantly clear the position on TLP. Seems massive confusion persists in your information!” she wrote.
