1 bystander killed[5] 40 government & private vehicles set on fire[3]
On 9 October 2025, the Islamist political partyTehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) launched a protest march fromLahore andFaisalabad towardIslamabad under the banner of theLabbaik Ya Aqsa Million March. The movement called for a rally outside theUS Embassy in Islamabad in solidarity with thePalestinians amid the ongoingGaza genocide. The planned march triggered a major security response: authorities imposedSection 144 inRawalpindi to restrict public gatherings, suspended 3G/4G mobile data services inIslamabad and Rawalpindi, and placedshipping containers alongside a heavy police deployment to seal off theRed Zone around the capital. Clashes erupted in Lahore when Punjab Police raided the TLP headquarters on Multan Road to arrest party leaderSaad Rizvi. Police usedtear gas and live fire to disperse demonstrators. According to reports, at least 11 TLP workers were killed and dozens more were injured during the live fire and shelling by the police.[6] The government maintained that the TLP had not obtained the required permission for the march, attributing the unrest to internal party disputes.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf memberSheikh Waqas Akram has compared the incident toModel Town Massacre and has said the government could not carry out a transparent probe into the massacre, hence independent observers and human rights organisations must be included to ensure a fair investigation.[14]
In the aftermath, the Pakistani government banned the TLP under the Anti-Terrorism Act in late October 2025.[15]
Background
The group has used marches and protests in the past, chanting slogans such as "Labbayk Ya Aqsa" (which roughly translates to "I am here forAl-Aqsa") and "Pro-Palestinian." The "Labbaik Ya Aqsa Million March" continues this tradition. Sources reported that the TLP leadership used inflammatory speeches and rhetoric, which authorities deemed abusive or provocative. That leading the way in measures predicting widespread unrest, authorities imposedSection 144 (ban on assemblies), suspended mobile internet (3G/4G) services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, placed shipping containers to block roads leading to the capital, and detained TLP activists.[9][16][10][8]
Timeline
October 8–9
Preparations intensified ahead of the march. Authorities inRawalpindi imposed Section 144, prohibiting public gatherings, and detained around 117 key TLP activists. Containers were placed near theFaizabad Interchange and other major routes, while security was tightened across thetwin cities.[16]
October 9
Mobile internet services (3G/4G) were suspended in Islamabad and Rawalpindi from midnight to 10 pm on October 9.[9] Clashes erupted in Lahore after a police raid on the TLP headquarters aimed at arresting its leader,Saad Rizvi. TLP supporters responded with stone pelting and iron rods, prompting police to use tear gas. At least three policemen were injured.[17]
October 10
The march was scheduled for October 10, 2025. Authorities had already closed major roads and sealed off theRed Zone aroundIslamabad.[10]
October 11
TLP supporters regrouped nearMuridke and announced their intent to continue the march toward Islamabad. Clashes were reported along theGT Road corridor, leaving several injured. Police detained over 100 activists following the unrest.[18]
October 12
The standoff escalated as protesters camped in Muridke. According to officials, dozens of police officers were injured, while TLP claimed multiple fatalities among its members. The Punjab government deployed additional police and Rangers, and roads toward Islamabad remained sealed.[19][20]
October 13
Violence escalated nearLahore andMuridke as police attempted to disperse the advancing TLP march. According to officials, at least five people, including a policeSHO, were killed and dozens were injured when clashes broke out between security forces and protesters. Police used tear gas and aerial firing to contain the crowd, while TLP claimed multiple deaths among its members.[21][22][23]
October 14
The Punjab government extended the enforcement ofSection 144 inRawalpindi andIslamabad for an additional 48 hours amid continued tensions. Internet and mobile data services remained suspended across thetwin cities, and heavy police deployment continued along theGT Road to prevent further TLP advances. TLP leaders accused the authorities of carrying out an "unprovoked crackdown", while officials claimed the party had refused to negotiate peacefully.[24][25][26]
Reactions
Imprisoned former prime minister andPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaderImran Khan expressed support for the TLP protests, highlighting what analysts described as a troubling alignment on certain issues.[27] Former PTI information ministerFawad Chaudhry questioned official casualty figures during the clashes, citing contacts with local leaders.[28]
PTI Central Information SecretarySheikh Waqas Akram denounced the "bloodshed" as "reprehensible, inhumane and disgraceful," describing the use of force as "brutal and excessive" and calling the scenes "deeply tragic and heartbreaking."[29] PTI demanded the resignation of the Punjab chief minister and expressed solidarity with victims of state brutality.[29]
Adviser to the Prime MinisterRana Sanaullah stated that the ban aimed to purge "anti-state and terrorist elements" from the party rather than eliminate it entirely.[31]
OtherBarelvi religious organisations distanced themselves from TLP's approach.[32] Some former TLP leaders and ticket holders publicly disassociated from the party, accusing it of serving an "enemy agenda".[33][34]
A TLP spokesperson defended the protests as solely aimed at expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.[28] Analysts expressed doubts over the ban's long-term effectiveness, citing TLP's resilient vote bank and past revocations of similar measures.[35]
Aftermath
Following the dispersal, the federal government banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on 24 October 2025, declaring it a proscribed organization under theAnti-Terrorism Act of 1997, citing involvement in terrorism.[36][37] The Punjab government moved to freeze TLP assets and properties, and transferred control of associated mosques and seminaries.[38]
TLP challenged the ban notification in court, arguing it was issued without due process.[39] TLP leader Saad Rizvi and others were placed on a no-fly list amid ongoing investigations.[40]
