LAHORE / ISLAMABAD – October 13, 2025 — Violent clashes erupted in Muridke early Monday between security forces and members of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), leaving one police officer martyred and three TLP workers dead. The confrontation occurred during an anti-Israel march after authorities blocked the group’s route to Islamabad.

According to police, the operation to clear protesters began around 3am and continued for nearly six hours. The protesters had been camping in Muridke since Friday after their planned march from Lahore to Islamabad was halted by police trenches and roadblocks.

A senior police official confirmed that the operation was aimed at restoring order after repeated attempts to negotiate failed. Following the clashes, roads and motorways in and around Lahore and Islamabad were closed again, sparking panic among commuters. Several schools in Islamabad also shortened classes and dismissed students early due to security concerns.

Police Confirm Casualties

Punjab Police spokesperson Mubashir Hussain said that Station House Officer (SHO) Shehzad Nawaz, of Sheikhupura’s Factory Area Police Station, was martyred during armed confrontation while performing his duty to protect lives and property. Three TLP workers were also killed during the exchange.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Punjab Police described the fallen SHO as a hero who “sacrificed his life in the line of duty.” The statement did not directly name the TLP but referred to “armed groups” responsible for the violence.

Government Condemns Violence

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari condemned the incident, saying the government had a duty to protect citizens and public property.

“Blocking roads and creating hardship for people, especially when calm has returned to Gaza, is unjustifiable,” she said at a press conference. “Taking the law into one’s hands cannot be tolerated.”

The Punjab government also issued a strong statement on X, labeling the TLP’s actions as “open treason and terrorism.”

“Attacking the state, firing on police, destroying property, and looting cannot be called protest,” the statement read. “These armed mobs are not above the law.”

Lawyers’ Bodies Decry Police Action

Meanwhile, legal organizations including the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) and Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) condemned what they described as “violence against TLP protesters.”

The LBA announced a strike and court boycott starting 11am Monday, demanding accountability for those responsible for firing on “unarmed” demonstrators.

In a joint statement, the LHCBA said:

“Every citizen has the right to peaceful protest. The use of force and bloodshed at the government’s behest is unacceptable in a democratic society.”

The lawyers’ groups also called for the release of detained TLP members and urged authorities to resolve issues through dialogue.

Traffic Disruptions and Road Closures

Following the Muridke operation, several major routes were closed again.

A Dawn.com correspondent reported that the Faizabad Interchange, linking Rawalpindi and Islamabad, was reopened briefly but closed again as panic spread. Only the Islamabad Expressway remained accessible.

Mobile internet services, which had been partially restored after being suspended on Friday, were again reported slow or disrupted in parts of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Parents in Islamabad received messages from schools advising early pickups due to possible unrest. “I had to rush to collect my children,” said Ghulam Abbas, a resident of Margalla Town. “Traffic congestion made it even worse.”

In Punjab, authorities sealed the M-2 Motorway (Lahore–Islamabad), M-3 (Lahore–Abdul Hakeem), and M-11 (Sialkot–Lahore) to restrict movement. Karachi police also reported traffic disruptions around 4K Chowrangi, citing protests by a “religious group.”

Background

The TLP began its latest march from Lahore on Friday, announcing plans to reach Islamabad to protest against Israel and demonstrate outside the US Embassy in solidarity with Gaza. However, authorities blocked their path, citing public safety concerns.

The situation remains tense, with police maintaining a strong presence in Sheikhupura, Lahore, and Islamabad to prevent further escalation.

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