At least eight people, including four policemen, were killed in a fresh clash between supporters of the radical Islamic party and police in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Wednesday
Amid rising tension, the Imran Khan government has decided to deploy Pakistani Rangers to deal with the protesters in the province. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that in view of the latest clashes, Rangers have been called for two months to maintain law and order in Punjab.
Supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) are demanding the release of party chief Saad Rizvi and the expulsion of the French ambassador. Over 10,000 supporters of the banned TLP were camping on GT Road between Muridke and Gujranwala for the last three days.
Following the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government’s refusal, they began their march towards Islamabad on Wednesday, following which clashes broke out between protesters and police in the Sadhoke area, about 50 km from Lahore.
hte government announced that it could not meet the TLP’s demand for the expulsion of the French ambassador.
Following the publication of a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad in France, TLP supporters staged protests in April, demanding the expulsion of the French ambassador and a ban on imports of French goods,
prompting the Punjab government to maintain public order (MPO). Saad Rizvi, son of the late Khadim Rizvi, the founder of the party, was taken into custody.
A senior police officer said that when TLP activists reached Sadhok, the police stopped them by force. This area became a battlefield. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters.
Dozens of TLP workers, including policemen, were injured in the clashes. Not only this, internet is closed in many areas.
Punjab Police Inspector Rao Sardar Ali Khan told reporters that during the protest, four of our policemen were killed and 263 others were injured in the firing on the security forces by the activists of the banned outfit.
TLP functionary Ibn-Ismail said that at least four party workers were killed in the police firing. He warned the government that thousands of TLP workers would lay down their lives but would not back down from their demands.
