TLP Alleges Over 250 Killed, Saad Rizvi Shot During Violent Clashes
ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has demanded the immediate resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif following the violent crackdown on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protesters in Muridke, where the party’s leader, Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi, was critically injured.
According to TLP officials, Rizvi sustained three bullet wounds during the police operation and is currently fighting for his life at a nearby medical facility. Doctors are working to stabilize his condition. As of now, no official statement has been released identifying those responsible for the attack or providing the exact location of the shooting.
The situation in Punjab remains tense. TLP spokespersons claim that over 250 of their supporters and leaders have been killed, and more than 1,500 have been injured in ongoing clashes across the province. Many of the wounded are reportedly in critical condition.
PTI Calls for Transparent Probe and Justice for Victims
Reacting strongly to the violence, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram condemned the use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators. He said the state cannot be trusted to carry out a transparent investigation into what he described as a massacre. PTI is demanding that independent observers and human rights organisations be included in the probe to ensure a fair and impartial inquiry.
Akram warned that the failure to punish those behind the 2014 Model Town killings has emboldened authorities to repeat such brutal actions. He accused the current government of silencing voices through force and criticized top leadership—including the prime minister and the Punjab chief minister—for their silence during this crisis.
He also highlighted that the TLP leadership had repeatedly called for dialogue, even until the final hours, but the government ignored opportunities for peaceful resolution.
PTI has demanded immediate medical aid for the injured and compensation for the families of the deceased. The party is also pushing for a judicial inquiry to identify and prosecute those responsible.
