Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry accused Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan of attempting to incite unrest under the pretext of protesting for Gaza, despite the recent announcement of a peace plan and a ceasefire in line with Palestinian demands.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament on Thursday, Chaudhry said the TLP’s planned march from Faizabad to the US embassy, dubbed the “Million Aqsa March”, was less about creating chaos and more about showing solidarity.
According to Express News, the Rawalpindi administration and police have drawn up a comprehensive security plan and launched a crackdown to arrest key TLP activists. Authorities confirmed that at least 117 workers were arrested in different areas of the city.
Learn more: Section 144 imposed in Rawalpindi before TLP rally
“After calls for protests in Islamabad over the Gaza issue, measures were taken in all provinces,” Chaudhry said. “Those arrested were not found with leaflets, but with weapons and materials intended for police attacks.”
He said authorities recovered sharp sticks, chemicals, glass beads, shell guns, tear gas shells and protective masks from TLP leaders. “Now that peace has been established in Palestine, they seem upset and want to sow disorder under the cover of protests,” he added.
The minister stressed that the federal government allows peaceful protests strictly within the framework of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“For example, Jamaat-e-Islami today organized a permitted event near Faisal Mosque while fully complying with the SOPs. Did the TLP even seek permission or ensure compliance with these SOPs?” » he questioned.
Chaudhry criticized the group’s leaders for “their inflammatory speeches and provocative behavior,” questioning why they appeared to oppose peace for the Palestinians. “Just as the Palestinians want peace, so does Pakistan,” he noted.
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He reiterated that those detained in Punjab and Islamabad had ammunition, chemicals, tear gas masks and shell guns, items “clearly intended to contribute to violent clashes.”
“I can say with certainty that those arrested in Islamabad are senior officials and workers of the TLP,” Chaudhry said, recalling that in previous episodes of Indian aggression, the group had also tried to divert public attention through disruptive protests.
Voting zero tolerance for extremism, he said Pakistan “will not allow any group to destabilize the country under political or religious pretexts” and promised legal action against those found guilty.
Lauding Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s proactive approach towards the Palestinian cause, the minister highlighted Pakistan’s humanitarian and diplomatic contributions.
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“Pakistan has sent medicines, food aid, provided medical education to Palestinian children and established temporary hospitals for the injured. No other country has done so much,” he said.
He added that Pakistan was among eight Muslim countries that engaged with US President Donald Trump to discuss a nearly 20-point peace agenda for Palestine. “Pakistan has openly participated in these discussions and the first phase of the plan has already been accepted,” Chaudhry noted.
“The Palestinian people want peace and a homeland, not protests or empty slogans,” he said, calling the ceasefire in Gaza a “victory for the Muslim Ummah.”
Chaudhry condemned the TLP’s planned protests, calling them a “political coup disguised as solidarity.” “The funds are not collected to buy food or medicine, but to buy spiked sticks,” he concluded.
