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TLP's 'Gaza March' Sparks Violent Clashes in Pakistan as Protesters Advance on Islamabad

Large-scale protests led by the far-right Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) sparked chaos across Punjab on Friday, as thousands of supporters marched toward the capital, clashing violently with police in Lahore.

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DY365

TLP's 'Gaza March' Sparks Violent Clashes in Pakistan as Protesters Advance on Islamabad

Large-scale protests led by the far-right Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) sparked chaos across Punjab on Friday, as thousands of supporters marched toward the capital, clashing violently with police in Lahore.

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Police responded by blocking major roads and suspending internet services in Islamabad to curb the unrest, according to Dawn.

The demonstration, termed the "Gaza March" by TLP, began after Friday prayers from the group’s headquarters on Multan Road in Lahore. Led by TLP leader Saad Rizvi, the procession saw supporters wielding sticks, rods, and bricks while chanting religious slogans. Police attempted to halt the march with barricades and tear gas at key locations such as Yateem Khana Chowk, Chauburji, Azadi Chowk, and Shahdara, but protesters overpowered the barriers and pressed forward.

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Witnesses reported that some TLP activists seized parts of Lahore’s Orange Line Metro track and pelted security forces with stones, injuring several officers. Social media footage showed protesters taking control of government vehicles, including cranes from the Lahore Waste Management Company and the Punjab Police, to aid their advance.

The clashes intensified near Azadi Chowk in Lahore, where multiple police vehicles were damaged, and several officers sustained injuries. Videos circulating online depicted police firing tear gas and warning shots to disperse the crowd, with some officers retreating for safety. Lahore police reported dozens of injured officers, while TLP alleged that several of its members were hurt, with unverified claims of fatalities due to police firing.

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In response to the violence, a Lahore anti-terrorism court remanded 110 TLP activists to 12-day police custody for allegedly attacking officers and damaging public property. An FIR filed by Nawankot Police accused the group of opening fire and engaging in violent acts against law enforcement.

Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, condemned the TLP for exploiting issues like corruption for political gain. Speaking in Islamabad, he stated, “While peaceful protests are a constitutional right, no group will be allowed to use violence, mobs, or blackmail to push their agenda.”

The TLP, a hardline Islamist party established in 2015, has a history of mobilising disruptive protests that often paralyse major cities in Pakistan, according to Dawn. By Friday night, tensions remained high across Punjab, with heavy security deployed along routes to Islamabad to prevent further escalation.