LAHORE: Thousands of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) supporters began marching on Islamabad on Saturday, following violent clashes with police in Lahore.
The TLP launched its anti-Israel protest rally on Thursday, announcing that it would march to the US embassy in Islamabad to protest the American-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas after two years of war in Gaza.
According to AFP, the demonstrations turned violent in Lahore on Friday when police baton-charged and fired tear gas at protesters, who responded by pelting stones at security personnel.
A senior police official told AFP that at least 50 police personnel were injured during Friday’s clashes while TLP claims that some of its members had been killed could not be verified independently.
Security restrictions and traffic disruptions continued for the second consecutive day in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Authorities suspended mobile internet services and blocked several major roads by placing shipping containers on key routes to stop the protesters from entering the capital.
According to a notification issued by the Islamabad Traffic Police, the entry of all heavy vehicles into the capital will remain suspended until further notice.
The notification said that traffic diversions were being made in the Faizabad area due to the law-and-order situation. The traffic police have advised citizens to use alternate routes to avoid inconvenience.
In Rawalpindi, major intersections including Committee Chowk, Liaquat Bagh Mor, DAV College Chowk, MH Chowk, Naz Cinema, Saddar, Haider Road, Suzuki Stand, and Murree Chowk and Kachehri Chowk remained shut on the second consecutive day.
Naqvi reviews security at Faizabad as TLP protest heads towards Islamabad
Partial traffic flow was allowed at Swan Bridge and New Gulzar-e-Quaid, but major interchanges such as Chakri, Thalian, Brahma and Mandra remain closed, cutting off access to key arteries in Rawalpindi.
Rural entry points, including Dhoke Talla Mor, Messa Kaswal, Bhai Khan Bridge and GT Road near Gujar Khan, have been blocked.
According to motorway authorities, the M-1 is open only towards Peshawar, while the M-2 remains closed in both directions between Rawalpindi and Lahore.
TLP leaders said the protest rally has been organised to oppose the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas — a deal supported by Pakistan.
“TLP has no other demands except to show solidarity with the people of Gaza,” senior party leader Allama Muhammad Irfan told AFP. “We don’t know when we’ll reach Islamabad, but the government is oppressing us. We are not in talks with the authorities.”
Earlier, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry vowed that protesters would not be allowed to enter Islamabad.
Speaking at a press conference, he said: “There is no room for extremist activities in Islamabad. If the ceasefire agreement is acceptable to Hamas and Palestine, why is it not acceptable to you?”