TLP protest continues across Pakistan; 3 killed and more than 100 arrested

TLP protest continues across Pakistan; in which 3 killed and more than 100 supporters of TLP got arrested. The deaths occurred in the Faizpur Interchange area of Lahore. Yesterday, the right-wing party’s chief Sahibzada Saad Hussain Rizvi; got arrested due to which the protest entered the second day.

A police constable was killed by protesters in Lahore; he was deployed at Gowalmandi police station. At least 40 other police officials have been injured in clashes with the protesters.

On Tuesday, Amid sporadic violent clashes between protestors and law enforcement agencies. A significant number of the country’s major arteries also remained blocked.

The spokesperson for the party, Tayyab Rizvi; said the protests will not be called off till the “French ambassador is deported”.

The decision reached a meeting held at the interior ministry this afternoon; led by Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, Minister for Religious Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, and officials of the law enforcement institutions. Inspector General (IG) Punjab police joined those in attendance through a video link.

While discussing the ongoing situation, the participants agreed to not let anyone take the law into their hands, and deal strongly with those doing so.

The interior ministry also issued directions for suspending internet services in the sensitive areas of the federal capital. The services will remain suspended in Taramri, Faizabad, T Chowk Rawat, Expressway, Athal Chowk, and Bara Kahu for the next 24 hours.

An important meeting of Punjab’s Provincial Committee on Home Affairs was also held under the chairmanship of Law Minister Raja Basharat. The meeting also ordered the deployment of Rangers along with police at 16 sensitive locations of the provincial capital.

The paramilitary troops have also been deployed in Islamabad for the security of the Red Zone, diplomatic enclave, and all-important government buildings in the federal capital.

As the protests continue, the federal government also deployed the paramilitary Rangers at Islamabad’s Faizabad Bridge, IJP Road, and Dhokri Chowk.

The TLP has been demanding the expulsion of the French ambassador over the publication of blasphemous caricatures. In November last year, the party staged a sit-in in Rawalpindi, which ended after an agreement with the government.

On 17 November, TLP announced that the government had accepted all its four demands. The TLP had released a copy of the handwritten agreement, carrying signatures of Qadri, then interior minister Ijaz Shah and the deputy commissioner, Islamabad.

The agreement said that the government would take a decision from the parliament regarding the expulsion of the French ambassador within three months, will not appoint its ambassador to France, and release all the arrested workers of the TLP.