Lahore:
At least five people-inclusive a police officer, three Tehreek-E-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) workers and a passing-by-Klev killed as law enforcement authorities performed a major operation before dawn in Murideke Monday to spread what officials described as “armed and violent mobs.”
According to official sources, the crash came in the midst of a multi-day protest march of TLP supporters moving from Lahore towards Islamabad in what the group called a pro-Palestine demonstration.
In a statement, spokesman for the Punjab police said the operation began after TLP workers “attacked the security staff with stones, spikkete sticks and gasoline bombs”.
The protesters, he claimed, opened “arbitrary fire” on law enforcers as they were ordered to spread, causing a “limited defensive reaction” from the forces.
Under the firing, a station house was the officer (SHO) martyrated, while 48 police and rangers staff sustained injuries, including 17 hit of shots. Three TLP protesters and a passerby also lost their lives, while eight civilians sustained injuries.
“Law enforcement authorities were forced to act in self -defense. The operation was performed to restore public security and clear national highways,” the statement states.
Officials added that the rebels burned 40 governments and private vehicles and several arrests were made. A search operation remains in progress to track those involved in the violence. “The Punjab police will never allow armed mobs to jeopardize citizens’ lives or disturb peace,” it concluded.
In a separate statement, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) repeated Dr. Usman Anwar, that TLP chief Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi was “secure and not in custody” that rejected viral social media allegations of his arrest or injury. “There is no truth to the rumors,” IGP said, calling on citizens to rely on verified information.
The Murideke operation triggered scattered protests in other parts of the country, including Karachi, where small groups blocked roads in North Karachi and Nagan Chowrangi before being spread with tear gas. Two children were injured during stone-throwing incidents while police arrested around a dozen TLP supporters.
Police later registered a case against the leadership and workers in TLP at City Murideke Police Station under Terrorism and several other criminal charges.
According to the first information report (FIR), TLP workers allegedly attacked a police party, set government vehicles on fire and created chaos and fear among the public after the authorities moved to spread their protest camp near Murideke.
The report stated that the mob was armed and resort to violence when police tried to clear the route. The protesters allegedly killed the Sho Factory area, damaged several police and private vehicles and took some officers hostage.
Police called Sections 6 and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 together with 302 (Murder), 435 (Mischief By Fire), 431 (Mischief in Public Roads), and several other sections of Pakistan Pennation (PPC), including 120b, 121A, 143, 147, 148, 149, 186, 290, among others.
Law enforcement sources said that FIR also mentions the use of speakers and violation of Punjab Sound Systems Regulation Act 2015 and Punjab Maintenance of the Public Order Regulation.
After the registration of the case, heavy quotas were deployed by the police in and around Murideke to maintain law and order.
Roads leading to the city remain blocked while traffic derivations were created by Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) at several entry points to Lahore and adjacent districts. Police officials said attacks were underway to arrest those involved in the violence.
In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, law enforcement authorities continued to enforce section 144, seal entry points and maintain alarm status around Faizabad and Islamabad Expressway. Mobile Internet, which had been partially suspended in Twin Cities since Friday, was restored Monday night.
At Monday night, the motorway police confirmed that traffic usually flowed on M-2 (Lahore Islamabad), M-3 (Lahore-Abdul Hakeem) and Lahore-Sialkot Motorway.
“All Lahore motorways are open to traffic and surgeries are normal,” Motorway Police -Speaker Imran Shah told the media
The restoration followed two days of intermittent closures and redirections that were imposed to prevent TLP’s convoy from moving on towards the capital.
The extent of street protests in Lahore seemed to fall significantly before Monday night.
Police sources said demonstrations that broke out earlier from a dozen points over the city had been reduced to three key spaces – Shimla Pahari, Samanabad against Scheme Mother and Thokar Niaz Beg – with small groups trying to block roads.
Authorities maintained a heavy police presence at these intersections, where less scrub was reported, but no major violence arose. The traffic police said that redirections were in place and public transport had mostly resumed normal operations.
Authorities had sealed larger entry points along GT Road and suspended Internet access in multiple districts to prevent escalation. Despite repeated government appeals, the group refused to spread, led to Monday’s Muridke.
When the tranquility returned to most parts of Punjab, officials said “the state’s writing has been restored” but warned of further actions against those who encourage unrest. Rights activists and opposition figures meanwhile called for transparency and restraint in the handling of prisoners.
Late on Monday night, Lahor’s roads were open and traffic on the motorway network was normalized. However, heavy police development remained in Murideke, Shahdara and Samanabad in the midst of fear of sporadic bloating.
Punjab -Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the government “will not give any opportunity to hold the public hostages or attack the state.” She warned that those involved in armed resistance would be tried according to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
TLP launched his “Long March” from Lahores Yateem Khana Chowk on Friday and promised to reach Islamabad to arrange a sit-in outside the US embassy to support Palestinians.
The Group, led by Hafiz Saad Rizvi – Son of the late fire fire priest Khadim Hussain Rizvi – has a history of disturbing demonstrations of religious and foreign policy issues.
