11 dead, 50 injured in Lahore as TLP clashes with police

At least 11 people have been killed and more than 50 injured in violent clashes between police and Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Lahore, marking a dramatic escalation in Pakistan’s ongoing struggle with extremist violence.

The violence erupted as security forces attempted to stop TLP supporters from marching toward Islamabad for a pro-Palestinian rally. Police reportedly used tear gas, barricades, and trenches to disperse the demonstrators. The group, however, accused authorities of indiscriminate firing on its supporters. Life in Islamabad and Rawalpindi has been severely disrupted, with roads closed, schools shut, and internet services suspended as tensions spread.

This unrest follows growing concern over TLP’s violent influence in Pakistan’s religious and political landscape. Just two months earlier, on August 18, TLP-linked mobs set ablaze two Ahmadiyya places of worship in Punjab’s Faisalabad district, according to the Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM). The attacks, led by a TLP ticket-holder, targeted Ahmadiyya worshippers during Independence Day processions, leaving several families terrorised.

Rights groups, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), have repeatedly warned that Pakistan’s failure to act against hate speech and extremist clerics has emboldened radical outfits like TLP. Despite arrests under the Anti-Terrorism Act, convictions remain rare, reinforcing a sense of impunity.

As clashes intensify, analysts warn that Pakistan’s repeated capitulation to extremist groups threatens both domestic stability and its global credibility. Rights advocates have urged Islamabad to confront and dismantle violent outfits rather than appeasing them for political convenience.

(With inputs from syndicated feed)