Police officers patrol a street following a crackdown on TLP activists during an anti-Israel demonstration in Muridke on October 13. Photo: AFP
LAHORE:
Following violent Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protests, Punjab police have compiled long lists of party leaders and senior activists for province-wide arrests, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
According to police sources, Punjab Inspector General (IG) Dr Usman Anwar has finalized lists identifying 4,500 prominent TLP leaders and workers across the province.
The lists were sent to CCPO Lahore and all Regional Police Officers (RPOs) with instructions to make immediate arrests.
Sources said that Lahore alone has 1,350 people, while Sheikhupura division has 350, Sahiwal division 330, Gujranwala division 450 and Faisalabad area 430. The IG has ordered that all “leaders and key workers of the banned organisation” be taken into custody without delay.
The move comes amid a continuing crackdown following violent protests in Lahore, Muridke and neighboring areas, where TLP supporters have clashed with law enforcement, vandalized public property and blocked highways.
Meanwhile, police have so far registered 25 criminal cases linked to the unrest and confirmed the arrest of 253 suspects, while further detentions are expected as geotagging and analysis of CCTV footage continues.
Police records show that 2,716 TLP-linked protesters have been arrested so far in coordinated operations across Punjab, including 251 in Lahore, 178 in Sheikhupura, 190 in Mandi Bahauddin, 155 in Rawalpindi, 143 in Faisalabad, 135 in Gujranwala, 128 in Sialkot and 121 in Attock.
A total of 76 criminal cases were registered in different districts – including 39 in Lahore city alone – for terrorism, attempt to murder, dacoity, incitement and armed attack on police.
According to official police data, the protests left 250 police officers and staff injured, while an inspector was martyred. Lahore reported the highest number of casualties, with 142 officers injured, followed by 48 injured in Sheikhupura.
Officials said the crackdown would continue until all key organizers and instigators were arrested.
Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari rejected allegations by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) that the government had “withheld information” about Operation Muridke launched to disperse the TLP rally, which the group said was held in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Bukhari maintained that the government made genuine attempts to persuade the TLP to call off its march on the US embassy in Islamabad, but the group remained uncooperative.
In related news, an anti-terrorism court sent 98 detained TLP employees to remand and handed over the remaining 20 to concerned police officials for 18 days on remand for further investigation.
ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul led proceedings on police remand requests for 118 TLP activists arrested in connection with violent clashes and attacks on law enforcement.
According to court proceedings, police from Muridke police station presented 98 arrested suspects, while police from Chung and Baghbanpura produced 20 accused before the court.
