Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry accused Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan of attempting to incite unrest under the pretext of demonstrating over Gaza, despite the recent announcement of a peace plan and ceasefire aligned with Palestinian demands.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament on Thursday, Chaudhry claimed that the TLP’s planned march from Faizabad to the US embassy, dubbed the “Million Aqsa March”, had less to do with solidarity and more to do with creating chaos.
According to Express News, the Rawalpindi administration and police came up with a comprehensive security plan and launched an offensive to arrest key TLP activists. Authorities confirmed that at least 117 workers had been detained in various parts of the city.
Read more: Section 144 imposed in Rawalpindi ahead of TLP rally
“After calls for protests in Islamabad over the Gaza issue, action was taken in all provinces,” Chaudhry said. “The detainees were not found with pamphlets, but with weapons and materials intended for police attacks.”
He said authorities had recovered spiked sticks, chemicals, glass pellets, guns, tear gas shells and protective masks from TLP leaders. “Now that peace has been established in Palestine, they seem angry and want to create disorder under the guise of protests,” he added.
The minister highlighted that the federal government allows peaceful protests strictly within the framework of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“For example, Jamaat-e-Islami today held a permitted event near Faisal Mosque in full compliance with the SOPs. Has TLP even sought permission or ensured compliance with those SOPs?” he questioned.
Chaudhry criticized the group’s leaders for “inflammatory speeches and provocative behavior,” questioning why they appeared to oppose peace for the Palestinians. “Just as the Palestinians want peace, Pakistan wants it too,” he said.
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He reiterated that those detained in Punjab and Islamabad possessed ammunition, chemicals, tear gas masks and firearms, items “clearly intended to assist in violent clashes.”
“I can say with confidence that those arrested in Islamabad are senior officials and workers of the TLP,” Chaudhry said, recalling that during previous episodes of Indian aggression, the group had similarly attempted to divert public attention through disruptive marches.
Pledgeing zero tolerance towards extremism, he said Pakistan “will not allow any group to destabilize the country under political or religious pretexts” and promised legal action against those found guilty.
Praising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s proactive approach towards the Palestinian cause, the minister highlighted Pakistan’s humanitarian and diplomatic contributions.
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“Pakistan has sent medicine, food aid, provided medical education to Palestinian children and set up temporary hospitals for the wounded. No other country has done so much,” he said.
He added that Pakistan was one of eight Muslim nations that engaged with US President Donald Trump to discuss a nearly 20-point peace agenda for Palestine. “Pakistan openly participated in these discussions and the first phase of the plan has already been accepted,” Chaudhry said.
“The people of Palestine want peace and a homeland, not protests or empty slogans,” he said, calling the ceasefire in Gaza a “victory for the Muslim Ummah.”
Chaudhry condemned the TLP’s planned demonstrations as “a political stunt disguised as solidarity.” “Funds are not raised for food or medicine, but rather to buy spiked sticks,” he concluded.
