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At least three people have been reportedly killed and more than 100 supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) arrested as the right-wing party’s protest entered the second day after the arrest of its chief Sahibzada Saad Hussain Rizvi a day earlier.
The deaths occurred in the Faizpur Interchange area of Lahore. A police constable was also 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.
The Lahore police have registered a case against the TLP Chief Saad Rizvi and others under terrorism and other charges.
Lahore police spokesperson Rana Arif said Shahdara Police have registered a first information report (FIR) against under “section 302 PPC and 7ATA”.
“The TLP armed men opened straight fire on the police and our four constables were injured,” Lahore DIG (operations) Sajid Kiani confirmed to Dawn while declaring it a dangerous sign of violent agitation.
Under a standing order, police had been deployed unarmed and allowed only to use anti-riot gear against violent protesters to avoid any mishap like that of Model Town, he said. “But it shocked us that the TLP men used guns against anti-riot force.”
DIG Kiani said when police reached Shahpur Kanjran to get the national highway cleared, announcements were made from nearby mosques, urging TLP followers to take on police. “Within 10 minutes, some 200 people joined those already present and attacked police,” he said.
