KARACHI / LAHORE / ISLAMABAD — Violent protests erupted across Pakistan on Monday after Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) claimed that its leader, Saad Hussain Rizvi, had been shot and injured. The announcement triggered chaos in major cities as enraged supporters blocked key roads, set vehicles ablaze, and clashed with law enforcement.
Authorities confirmed that Muridke’s Factory Area Station House Officer (SHO), Shehzad Nawaz, was martyred during violent clashes between police and TLP activists. At least four people, including civilians and law enforcement personnel, were killed, while 56 others sustained injuries in the unrest.
Nationwide Protests and Road Blockades
Within hours of the announcement, TLP workers poured onto the streets of Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad, blocking highways and burning tires. Major arteries, including parts of the Grand Trunk (GT) Road, became completely impassable, leaving commuters stranded for hours.
Mobile services were partially suspended in several areas as authorities moved to contain the spreading violence. Educational institutions, including schools and universities, were ordered to close indefinitely due to security threats.
Muridke Operation: Intense Clashes and Casualties
In Muridke, the epicentre of Monday’s violence, police and Rangers launched an operation to disperse TLP workers after the protests turned violent. According to officials, demonstrators pelted stones, used spiked sticks, and hurled petrol bombs at security forces. The situation escalated when protesters opened indiscriminate fire, leading to multiple injuries and fatalities.
In response, security forces conducted a limited counter-operation to regain control of the area. By evening, authorities had cleared the GT Road, though heavy police presence remained. Officials said 48 law enforcement personnel, including police and Rangers, were injured 17 of them by gunfire while three TLP activists and one passerby lost their lives.
Eyewitnesses reported that nearly 40 vehicles, both government and private, were torched during the clashes. The injured and those affected by tear gas were shifted to nearby hospitals, while dozens of protesters were taken into custody.
Karachi: Roads Blocked, Traffic Paralyzed
In Karachi, TLP supporters staged demonstrations at several points, including Nala Stop and 4K Chowrangi in North Karachi. Protesters blocked roads, pelted stones, and damaged vehicles, bringing city traffic to a standstill.
Police units were deployed to clear the routes and restore movement, but many commuters remained stranded for hours amid heavy congestion.
Lahore: Lawyers Join Protests, Courts Affected
In Lahore, TLP-affiliated lawyers staged a protest outside Aiwan-e-Adl (Hall of Justice), condemning the Muridke operation and demanding the release of arrested party members. They blocked traffic from the Civil Secretariat to PMG Chowk, chanting anti-government slogans.
Witnesses said some protesters clashed with police officers outside the courts, while the Lahore Bar Association announced a strike, urging lawyers to boycott court appearances after 11 a.m. The association demanded medical aid for the injured and legal action against officials who “ordered fire on peaceful demonstrators.”
The protests also led to severe disruption on roads and motorways, forcing travellers to turn to the railway system for intercity transport. Trains between Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Sialkot were packed beyond capacity, with passengers including women, children, and the elderly forced to travel standing.
Rawalpindi and Islamabad: Security Tightened, Institutions Closed
In Rawalpindi, public and private schools reopened after a three-day closure under strict security. Attendance was reported as normal, and traffic flow remained largely smooth, except for diversions near Faizabad Interchange.
Meanwhile, in Islamabad, road blockages caused widespread disruption to court proceedings. Many lawyers failed to appear at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) due to road closures, leading to adjournments of multiple hearings.
The IHC Bar Association appealed to judges not to pass adverse orders against lawyers unable to reach the court. Acting Secretary Imran Ashfaq stated that entry routes to the capital were blocked, making normal judicial operations impossible.
Following the Muridke clashes, security was tightened across both twin cities. Police were placed on high alert, with additional checkpoints established along major routes. Though most main roads, including Murree Road, have been reopened, several intersections such as Shamsabad and Faizabad remain closed to traffic.
Universities in Islamabad also announced sudden holidays, cancelling evening sessions due to the volatile situation leaving parents and students scrambling to adjust their schedules.
Who is Saad Rizvi?
Saad Hussain Rizvi, 31, is the son of Khadim Hussain Rizvi, the late founder of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). He assumed leadership of the party in 2020 following his father’s death. Known for his strong social media strategy, Rizvi has trained TLP supporters in digital mobilisation to amplify the party’s messaging.
TLP’s core agenda revolves around Section 295-C of Pakistan’s Penal Code, concerning blasphemy laws. The party was banned in 2021 but later reinstated after a government deal that saw the release of over 200 detained workers.
Rizvi, who contested the 2024 general elections from Attock, lost to a PTI candidate but continues to command a large following among hardline supporters nationwide.
