A police operation against the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) long march in Muridke concluded on Sunday after hours of violent clashes, leaving one police officer martyred and dozens injured, according to security officials.
The Station House Officer (SHO) of Factory Area Police Station, Shahzad Jhoomhar, was reportedly martyred when protesters opened fire on security forces during the clearance operation. Law enforcement agencies regained full control of the GT Road, dispersing the protesters and restoring traffic movement.
According to police, TLP activists used stones, iron rods, and petrol bombs to resist the operation, and later resorted to indiscriminate gunfire, resulting in casualties among both civilians and law enforcement personnel.
At least 48 police and Rangers personnel were injured, including 17 by gunfire, while three TLP workers and one passerby were killed. Eight other civilians sustained injuries during the clashes.
The rioters also set fire to 40 government and private vehicles, police said, adding that several protesters were arrested. Tear gas was used to disperse the crowd, and the injured were shifted to local hospitals. Authorities have restricted civilian movement towards GT Road to maintain security.
In response to the Muridke operation, TLP-affiliated lawyers held a protest outside Aiwan-e-Adl, blocking traffic from the Civil Secretariat to PMG Chowk and chanting slogans against the government.
Protesters reportedly manhandled police officers, while the Lahore Bar Association announced a strike in subordinate courts, urging lawyers not to appear in hearings after 11 a.m.
The bar demanded the immediate release of detained TLP workers, proper medical care for the injured, and action against officials responsible for firing on protesters. The association condemned the Muridke operation “in the strongest terms.”
Meanwhile, road closures and motorway blockades caused major disruptions for travelers. Many passengers shifted to trains, resulting in overcrowded coaches on routes from Lahore to Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Sialkot. Despite adding extra coaches, Pakistan Railways reported that the rush remained high.
After the operation, security was heightened across the twin cities. All educational institutions in Rawalpindi reopened after three days, with attendance returning to normal. Police maintained a high alert at key intersections, and traffic on Murree Road, Mall Road, and Peshawar Road flowed smoothly, although Faizabad and Shamsabad intersections remained closed.
In Islamabad, road blockages also disrupted judicial proceedings. Most lawyers were unable to appear before the Islamabad High Court, prompting judges to postpone hearings. The Islamabad High Court Bar Association issued a statement citing road closures and requested that no adverse orders be passed in lawyers’ absence.
The ongoing protest and security measures have continued to disrupt routine life in the federal capital and adjoining cities, with authorities monitoring the situation closely.
