ISLAMABAD: Three policemen were martyred and many others sustained injuries in clashes with workers of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Lahore.
In a statement issued tonight, DIG (Operation) Lahore Spokesperson Mazhar Hussain identified two of the slain officials as Ayub and Khalid. The identity of the third official could not be ascertained till the filing of this report.
Mazhar Hussain said that several others were also injured and taken to the hospital in critical condition. He said, the protesters threw petrol bombs on police officials when the cops tried to prevent them from vandalising and damaging public property. He said the angry TLP mob also used sticks and pelted stones on police force.
Meanwhile, Lahore police spokesman Arif Rana said that officials fired teargas after the TLP supporters attacked a police checkpoint.
They had clashed with the police at several places in the city, he said. They had assured us that they will remain peaceful but they turned violent, he said.
A TLP media coordinator, Saddam Bukhari, said the police attacked the peaceful rally of the party that was on its way to Islamabad.
In a separate statement, a spokesperson for the banned group said that workers had endured the “worst shelling in history” and were “attacked from all sides” near the Mao College Pul.
The spokesperson claimed that at least 500 workers had been seriously wounded while several had died.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar offered condolences and prayed for the deceased officials. He assured their families that the provincial government stood with them in their time of grief.
The chief minister also directed officials to take strict action against those responsible for the incident. “Rule of law must be ensured at all costs,” he said, warning that no one would be allowed to take the law into their hands.
He also directed officials to ensure the best possible medical facilities for the injured policemen.
