In a week marked by escalating tensions and deadly violence, Pakistan’s Punjab province witnessed a dramatic confrontation between security forces and thousands of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) supporters, resulting in at least five deaths and dozens of injuries. The unrest, which began as a march to express solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, quickly spiraled into chaos as authorities and protesters clashed in multiple cities, including Lahore and Muridke.
The TLP, a far-right Islamist political party led by Saad Hussain Rizvi, launched its protest on October 10, 2025, following Friday prayers at its headquarters in Lahore. The group’s stated goal was to march to Islamabad and stage a sit-in outside the US embassy, demanding more robust pro-Palestinian action from the Pakistani government in light of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Thousands of supporters, some armed with sticks, rods, and bricks, joined the march, chanting religious slogans and vowing to reach the capital despite mounting obstacles.
According to India Today, the situation reached a boiling point overnight on October 13, when Punjab Police initiated a large-scale dispersal operation against TLP protesters encamped in Muridke, roughly 40 kilometers from Lahore. Security forces, including the Pakistan Rangers and police contingents from five districts, used tear gas and baton charges in an attempt to break up the demonstration. Protesters responded with stones, spiked batons, petrol bombs, and, according to police, even opened fire on authorities. Punjab Police Chief Usman Anwar reported, "Demonstrators opened fire on authorities, killing an officer and injuring a dozen other officers."
As the violence intensified, the confrontation left a grim toll. Official police statements confirmed the deaths of three protesters and one police officer, but local reports suggested the actual number was higher. The New Indian Express cited police sources who said, "One police official was killed and 48 injured, including 17 who got gun wounds," while "one civilian and three protesters were also killed, with another eight injured." The operation, which lasted about five hours, also saw protesters setting fire to 40 government and private vehicles, leaving charred remains scattered across the roads.
The chaos was not confined to Muridke. In Lahore’s Shahdara area, TLP supporters reportedly attacked police facilities, looted vehicles, and damaged property, according to Dawn. The violence prompted authorities to block major roads and motorways, including the M2 near Lahore and key routes in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Shipping containers were placed along roads to prevent the marchers from advancing toward the capital, and some schools in Islamabad closed early amid fears of further unrest.
Adding to the turmoil, TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi was shot multiple times during the clashes and remained in critical condition as of Monday, October 13, according to local media reports cited by Dawn. Despite his injuries, Rizvi urged his supporters to remain calm, stating, "I am consulting my party before giving further instructions." He also accused authorities of "using lethal weapons" against unarmed demonstrators, reiterating the group’s demand that "Pakistan should not recognise Israel." During Friday prayers in Lahore, Rizvi had delivered a fiery message to his followers: "Arrest is not a problem, bullets are not a problem, shells are not a problem – martyrdom is our destiny."
The police response was equally forceful. Overnight raids were conducted across three districts in Sahiwal division, resulting in the detention of 170 TLP affiliates under the Maintenance of Public Order Act. Detainees were subsequently moved to central prisons in Pakpattan, Sahiwal, and Okara. Authorities justified the crackdown by citing the group’s history of violent protests and its lack of permission to demonstrate in Islamabad. Punjab Police posted on X (formerly Twitter), "When the dispersal operation began, workers of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) resorted to stone-pelting, using spiked batons and petrol bombs. Subsequently, they engaged in indiscriminate firing, resulting in loss of life to civilians and law enforcement personnel."
Despite the official death toll, TLP leaders claimed that the true scale of the violence was far greater. The party asserted that over 250 of its workers had been killed and more than 1,500 injured during the clashes, though these figures could not be independently verified. TLP also reported that 11 of its members were killed and over 50 injured in earlier confrontations leading up to the October 13 escalation.
Amid the turmoil, Pakistan’s political leadership scrambled to contain the crisis. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened a high-level meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to review the internal security situation. In response, over 1,200 paramilitary personnel were deployed across Punjab to prevent the TLP march from reaching Islamabad. Information Minister Talal Chaudhry accused TLP of exploiting the Gaza conflict for "political gain," vowing zero tolerance for violence and promising that the government would not allow law and order to be undermined.
The TLP, which rose to prominence in 2017 after forcing the government to reverse changes in the parliamentary oath, has a history of mobilizing large crowds and clashing with authorities. The party was banned in 2021 following violent protests over Rizvi’s earlier arrest under anti-terror laws, though the ban was later lifted. The current unrest underscores the group’s continued ability to galvanize supporters and challenge the state, particularly on issues with strong religious and nationalist undertones.
For ordinary Pakistanis, the unrest brought daily life to a standstill. Motorways and major roads were choked with blockades, public transport was disrupted, and the specter of further violence loomed over cities already on edge. Social media was flooded with images of burning vehicles and injured protesters, fueling anger and anxiety. In the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, authorities remained on high alert, prepared to reimpose road closures at a moment’s notice.
As the dust settles, questions remain about the path forward. The government faces the delicate task of restoring order without further inflaming tensions or appearing to suppress legitimate expressions of solidarity with Palestinians. Meanwhile, TLP’s leadership, battered but unbowed, continues to command a fervent following willing to brave bullets, batons, and even martyrdom for their cause.
The events of October 2025 serve as a stark reminder of the volatile intersection between religious politics, public protest, and state authority in Pakistan. As negotiations continue and the wounds—both literal and figurative—begin to heal, the country must reckon with the underlying grievances and deep divisions that fueled this latest eruption of violence.
