LAHORE: Violence erupted in Lahore late Wednesday night after police launched a crackdown on Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) headquarters to arrest the party’s chief, Saad Rizvi. The operation quickly escalated into chaos as TLP supporters clashed with police, turning parts of Multan Road into a battlefield.
Police-TLP Clashes Turn Violent
According to reports, at least three police constables sustained injuries during the confrontation. Witnesses said TLP activists attacked law enforcers with stones, clubs, and iron rods, forcing police to retaliate with tear gas shelling to disperse the crowd.
Videos shared on social media — though unverified — showed TLP workers running as police fired tear gas shells. Other clips depicted protesters displaying spent bullet casings and tear gas canisters, alleging excessive use of force.
Crackdown Linked to Upcoming Protest in Islamabad
The crackdown followed TLP’s announcement of a massive anti-Israel demonstration scheduled outside the US embassy in Islamabad on Friday. Anticipating unrest, the Islamabad administration began placing shipping containers at Faizabad Interchange, a site known for previous TLP sit-ins that paralysed the twin cities.
A TLP statement issued early Thursday condemned the police operation, claiming multiple arrests of party workers and raids on supporters’ homes. The group accused authorities of trying to suppress their peaceful protest through “unjustified state aggression.”
Police Describe Intense Resistance from TLP Supporters
Police sources revealed that TLP had called in large numbers of supporters to Lahore ahead of the operation. These activists reportedly took up positions in makeshift shelters around the party’s central office and attacked police parties during the raid.
Law enforcement officials said the TLP men used stones, rods, and iron bars to resist the police advance, at times forcing officers to retreat. The clashes were ongoing till late Wednesday night, with heavy police presence deployed to prevent further escalation.
Authorities have not yet confirmed any arrests of senior TLP leaders, while tension remains high in the provincial capital ahead of the group’s planned march on Islamabad.
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