Lahore: Violence erupted for a second consecutive day on Saturday as Islamist outfit Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) clashed with police while attempting to march toward the capital for a pro-Palestinian rally. The confrontation escalated amid ongoing tensions over the Gaza conflict.
Calling the Punjab police “Israeli goons”, TLP leaders claimed that law enforcement fired indiscriminately at protesters, resulting in 11 deaths and over 50 injuries. In a viral video, a TLP leader could be heard amid gunfire saying, “11 TLP people have been killed since the morning. Continuous shelling and firing is happening.”
The unrest, which began on Thursday in response to Israeli attacks in Gaza, intensified as police deployed tear gas and baton charges to control crowds. Protesters retaliated by throwing stones, leaving dozens of officers injured, according to The Dawn.
Near Lahore’s Azadi Chowk, clashes turned particularly violent, with several police vehicles set ablaze and multiple officers injured. Authorities erected barricades, placed shipping containers, and even dug trenches to stop thousands of protesters, led by TLP chief Saad Rizvi, from reaching Islamabad for demonstrations near the US embassy. Lahore is approximately 370 kilometres from the capital.
During Friday prayers, Rizvi reportedly addressed the protesters, saying, “Arrest is not a problem, bullets are not a problem, shells are not a problem — martyrdom is our destiny.”
The US embassy issued advisories urging its citizens to avoid large gatherings and stay vigilant.
The unrest coincides with Israel and Hamas agreeing to the first phase of a Gaza peace deal mediated by US President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, life in Islamabad and Rawalpindi remained paralyzed, with major roads sealed, businesses and schools closed, and internet services suspended.
