MURIDKE/ISLAMABAD; Security forces dispersed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protesters early Monday after hours-long clashes near Muridke, where the group had been camped following the blockade of their route to Islamabad. The confrontation resulted in the martyrdom of a police Station House Officer (SHO), the deaths of three TLP activists, and one passerby.
Authorities reimposed road and motorway closures in and around Lahore and Islamabad that had briefly reopened on Sunday. Panic spread among citizens, prompting some schools in the capital to close early due to fears of escalating unrest.
Early Morning Operation
A senior police officer revealed that the operation to clear the protest camp began at 3am and continued for nearly six hours. Law enforcement agencies, including the Punjab Rangers and police contingents from five districts, had surrounded the site a day earlier in preparation for dispersal.
Punjab police spokesperson Mubashir Hussain said that during the clash, SHO Shehzad Nawaz of Sheikhupura Factory Area police station was martyred by gunfire. He added that 48 security personnel were injured, including 17 who sustained bullet wounds, while eight civilians were also hurt.
Hussain alleged that TLP members attacked security forces with stones, nail-studded sticks, and petrol bombs before opening fire. In response, police launched limited action in self-defence. Several TLP protesters were arrested, while 40 vehicles were set ablaze during the violence.
Government Labels Violence as ‘Treason and Terrorism’
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the government had a duty to protect citizens’ lives and property. She criticised the TLP’s actions, saying that causing disruption and attacking law enforcement after peace had been restored in Gaza was unacceptable.
A statement on the Punjab government’s official X account described the TLP’s armed attacks on police as “treason and terrorism”, declaring that no group could be above the law.
Lawyers’ Associations Condemn Police Action
The Lahore Bar Association announced a strike from 11am, protesting against the arrests and alleged firing on TLP workers. The Lahore High Court Bar Association also issued a statement stressing the right to protest and condemning the use of force, urging the government to resolve issues through talks and release detained demonstrators.
Road Closures and Panic in Cities
Authorities closed major motorways, including M-2, M-3 and M-11, to block movement toward Islamabad. In the capital, routes around Faizabad Interchange were reopened briefly but were closed again around 11am due to panic. Some schools shifted to half-day schedules, sending urgent messages to parents. Residents reported traffic jams and slow mobile internet services in parts of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Karachi police also reported blockages near 4K Chowrangi due to religious group protests, further disrupting traffic.
