Pakistan on Edge as TLP Labbaik Ya Aqsa March Turns Violent

Pakistan is in the grip of growing unrest as the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)’s “Labbaik Ya Aqsa March” descends into chaos. The march, which started as a gesture of solidarity with Palestine, soon became a major showdown between protesters and law enforcement agencies. From Islamabad to Lahore, scenes of mayhem, road blockades, and tear gas have shown a nation fighting to stay in control.

Authorities have shut down main roads connecting the federal capital to cut off the route for protesters to march towards Islamabad. Mobile internet services have been cut off in various parts and Section 144 has been implemented in the province of Punjab to restrict assembling and uphold law and order. Nevertheless, violent confrontations keep on breaking out, injuring dozens and the mood remains tense.

Rangers Surround TLP’s Muridke Camp Amid Escalating Tensions

The epicentre of the mayhem is Muridke, where TLP’s central camp has turned into a citadel of defiance. After two failed bids to disperse the protesters, Rangers and Punjab police have now surrounded the location, waiting in anticipation of potential further escalation. Sources indicate that the security personnel are taking care not to incur any unnecessary bloodshed, but the standoff remains on the brink.

Witnesses recall the situation as one of high alert — armored cars parked on major roads, barbed wire closing entry points, and loudspeakers blaring “Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah” and “Labbaik Ya Aqsa.”

The tense environment has put residents on edge, with many shops closed and traffic routes paralyzed. The previously thriving town of Muridke now remains eerily quiet, interrupted only by the wail of sirens and slogans.

Police Casualties and Arrests Mount

The clashes have had a heavy toll, with official reports indicating that more than 112 policemen in Lahore have been injured, and a number of them are said to be missing following intense standoffs with TLP activists. More than 100 arrests have been confirmed so far by the Punjab Police, including masterminds who are said to have instigated violence and destroyed public property.

Hospitals throughout Lahore and Sheikhupura are seeing a steady influx of wounded officers and protesters. Emergency wards overflow with medical staff working day and night. Despite continuous appeals for restraint, the violence shows no signs of abating.

Government Appeals for Restraint and Dialogue

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi have been personally overseeing the situation, conducting top-level meetings with security personnel. Both of them have stressed the importance of restoring order by using restraint and dialogue, not force.

In a midnight address, Interior Minister Naqvi appealed to law enforcement agencies to “act responsibly and refrain from excessive actions,” while asserting that “no one will be allowed to challenge the writ of the state.” The government has also called on TLP leadership to call off the violent protests and go back to the table of negotiations.

Yet, considering the movement’s past of extended standoffs with the state, the path to peace doesn’t seem clear-cut.

A Nation at a Crossroads

The “Labbaik Ya Aqsa March” has again revealed the weakness of Pakistan’s internal stability. What started off as a religious protest has now become a large-scale law and order situation, challenging the government to balance dealing with dissent while protecting civil liberties.

The public is increasingly alarmed at the vicious cycle of religious group-state confrontation, which, with each incident, wounds the country’s social fabric further. With dusk falling over Muridke and Lahore, Pakistan is poised at the juncture — confrontation or reconciliation, chaos or control.

The next few hours will decide if peace can be regained or the turmoil further seeps into the nation.

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