Life in Pakistan’s major cities ground to a halt this weekend as violent clashes between police and members of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party erupted during a series of anti-Israel protests. The unrest, which began in Lahore on Thursday, October 9, 2025, quickly spread to Islamabad and Rawalpindi, prompting a sweeping lockdown, the closure of schools and businesses, and the suspension of public transportation and communication networks.
According to The Express Tribune, the protests were sparked by a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, signed on Thursday, October 9. The deal, hailed by Islamabad as a "historic opportunity" for lasting peace in the Middle East, included the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, as part of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point initiative to end the war in Gaza. Despite Pakistan’s official support for the agreement, the TLP organized demonstrations to voice its opposition, culminating in a planned march to the US Embassy in Islamabad.
The situation escalated rapidly. On Friday, October 10, TLP workers and police clashed in Lahore, with authorities resorting to baton charges and tear gas after protesters pelted officers with rocks. By Saturday, thousands of TLP supporters—undeterred by the police crackdown—had begun marching towards Islamabad, reaching the city of Muridke en route. Law enforcement agencies, overwhelmed by the sheer numbers, failed to contain the procession despite extensive roadblocks and a massive deployment of security personnel.
The human toll has been severe. As reported by The Nation, several people were killed and more than 150 injured during the confrontations, which also left at least 112 policemen wounded and several missing. Lahore Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Faisal Kamran revealed in a press conference that some police officers had been taken hostage by protesters. “It is deeply regrettable that individuals working to maintain law and order are being held hostage, and the perpetrators are boasting about it online,” Kamran lamented. He described scenes of widespread vandalism, looting, and destruction of public and private property, with police stations and Orange Line Metro stations among the targets.
“They climbed onto the Orange Line station, damaging the structure and celebrating as if they had achieved a great victory,” Kamran said, characterizing the incidents as a “complete disregard for the law and public property.” Vehicles belonging to city services such as LWMC, WASA, Rescue 1122, and Suthra Punjab were also destroyed or seized by mobs. The chaos paralyzed daily life, leaving citizens unable to reach hospitals, workplaces, or schools. “Ordinary citizens are the real victims. Roads have been blocked, vehicles damaged, and daily life brought to a standstill,” Kamran added.
Authorities responded with a heavy hand. Police raided the TLP office at Jamia Masjid Ghausia Zia-ul-Uloom in Lahore, arresting 77 workers in a preventive crackdown. In total, more than 100 suspects were detained across the city, with separate First Information Reports (FIRs) registered for each area affected by vandalism, theft, or attacks on police. “We have complete CCTV and video evidence of their actions, and every individual involved will be held accountable,” Kamran stated.
Meanwhile, in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, lockdown measures began on Thursday and intensified through the weekend. Major arteries, including Murree Road and its connecting streets, were sealed with shipping containers and barriers. Both major and minor streets were blocked, while police checkpoints and patrols dotted the cityscape. Over 6,000 security personnel, including SP-ranking officers and snipers, were deployed along key routes. The government also suspended mobile and internet services in the twin cities, further isolating residents and complicating efforts to coordinate relief or communicate with loved ones.
The shutdown was comprehensive. Schools, colleges, universities, wholesale markets, transport hubs, and goods transport services all closed their doors, grinding commercial and social life to a halt. Residents faced severe hardships, with patients, the sick, and essential service providers struggling to reach their destinations. Wholesale and fruit-vegetable markets remained closed, triggering shortages and sharp price hikes. Public parks were deserted, and nightlife businesses, including hotels and food chains, were shuttered. Metro Bus services were suspended, and side streets overflowed with motorcycles and rickshaws as people sought alternative routes.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry explained the government’s position, stating that the TLP “did not obtain necessary permits” to hold the rally. He defended the lockdown as necessary to maintain law and order. “These steps are to ensure public safety and prevent disruption,” a police spokesperson told The Express Tribune. However, many residents expressed frustration at the lack of official assistance in navigating the closures, with essential travel—especially for medical emergencies—becoming nearly impossible.
Section 144, a legal provision banning public gatherings, protests, and inflammatory speeches, was invoked and remains in effect across the affected areas. Police attempted to arrest TLP chief Saad Rizvi, but faced stiff resistance and stone-pelting from his supporters, who were also found in possession of gas masks and chemicals allegedly intended for use during the rally.
The TLP, for its part, insisted that its protest was peaceful and motivated solely by solidarity with Palestinians. “We have no demands, apart from showing solidarity with the people of Gaza,” senior TLP member Allama Muhammad Irfan told a wire service as the marchers set off for Islamabad. “We have no idea when we will reach Islamabad, but the government is being brutal with us. We are not negotiating with the government at all.” The party also alleged that several of its workers had been killed and dozens injured due to police firing and shelling, though these claims could not be independently verified.
Government officials maintained that they had attempted to engage the TLP leadership in dialogue to avoid violence. “We kept all doors of negotiation open, offering multiple peaceful alternatives, but they refused to cooperate or adopt any course that would protect the city and its citizens,” DIG Kamran said. He emphasized that while the right to protest is guaranteed in Pakistan, violence, vandalism, and looting cannot be tolerated. “The police and state institutions are united in protecting the people and maintaining peace, even at the cost of our lives,” he declared.
As the weekend drew to a close, efforts to restore order continued. Police and state institutions worked to clear the cities of violent elements and minimize further damage. The government reiterated its commitment to dialogue, but warned that those attacking citizens, damaging property, or challenging the authority of the state would face strict legal action. “We will not allow anyone to hold the city hostage or disrupt the peace of ordinary citizens,” DIG Kamran asserted.
The events of the past several days have left Pakistan’s urban centers reeling, with residents caught in the crossfire of a conflict that has paralyzed daily life and exposed deep divisions over the country’s role in the Middle East peace process. As both sides dig in, the question remains: when will the streets of Lahore, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi return to normal?
