Pakistan Police Officer Among Five Killed as Authorities Disperse Pro-Palestinian March
LAHORE, Pakistan — In a violent confrontation on Monday, clashes between police and thousands of protesters supporting Palestinians in Muridke, near Lahore, left at least five people dead. Among the casualties was a police officer, with several others injured during the dispute, according to local officials and eyewitnesses.
Punjab Police Chief Usman Anwar explained that demonstrators opened fire on security personnel while trying to remove shipping containers the police had deployed to block roads. The ensuing exchange of gunfire resulted not only in the death of the officer but also in the loss of three protesters and a civilian before the crowd was ultimately dispersed.
The march was organized by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a political party known for its confrontational stance. TLP released video footage showing burning vehicles, including a truck carrying party officials. The demonstration, dubbed the “long march,” originally began in eastern Pakistan and was intended to culminate with a rally in front of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. Earlier in the week, police had detained more than 100 demonstrators during a protest in Lahore.
Before dawn on Monday, TLP leader Saad Rizvi addressed supporters in a video urging security forces to cease firing and stating that he was open to negotiations. Rizvi, who was injured during the clashes, remains under search by the authorities as they attempt to locate and arrest protest leaders hiding in nearby neighborhoods.
The incident comes amid heightened tension as the U.S. Embassy had previously issued a security alert in anticipation of possible disruptions during the march. The TLP, which first emerged into prominence during Pakistan’s 2018 elections by campaigning in defense of the nation’s blasphemy law, has a history of organizing rallies that sometimes turn violent. The party’s demonstrations have frequently been marked by clashes over issues related to the desecration of Islamic texts abroad.
Pakistan Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry later expressed his confusion over the decision to resort to violence, questioning why TLP did not opt for a peaceful demonstration in support of Palestine. Despite mixed public reactions and ongoing debates about government responses, the march has continued to fuel discussions about the appropriate balance between protest and public order.
Authorities are currently assessing the damage from the violence as investigations continue into the unfolding events. The incident underscores an atmosphere of volatility surrounding politically charged demonstrations in the country.
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