Police personnel patrol a street following a crackdown on TLP activists during an anti-Israel protest in Muridke on October 13. Photo: AFP
LAHORE:
In the wake of violent Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protests, Punjab police have drawn up extensive lists of party leaders and senior activists for arrests across the province, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
According to police sources, Punjab Inspector General (IG) Dr Usman Anwar has finalized lists identifying 4,500 prominent TLP leaders and workers across the province.
The lists were sent to CCPO Lahore and all regional police officers (RPOs) with instructions to initiate immediate arrests.
Sources said there are 1,350 people in Lahore alone, while Sheikhupura Division has a list of 350, Sahiwal Division 330, Gujranwala Division 450 and Faisalabad Region 430. The IG has ordered that all “leaders and key workers of the banned organisation” be arrested without delay.
The move comes amid an ongoing crackdown following violent demonstrations in Lahore, Muridke and adjacent areas, where TLP supporters clashed with law enforcement, vandalized public property and blocked roads.
Meanwhile, police have so far registered 25 criminal cases related to the riots and confirmed the arrest of 253 suspects, while more arrests are expected as analysis of CCTV footage and geofencing continues.
Police records show that 2,716 TLP-linked protesters have so far been arrested in coordinated operations across Punjab, including 251 in Lahore, 178 in Sheikhupura, 190 in Mandi Bahauddin, 155 in Rawalpindi, 143 in Faisalabad, 135 in Gujranwala, 128 in Sialkot and 121 in Attock.
A total of 76 criminal cases have been registered in different districts (39 of them in Lahore alone) on charges of terrorism, attempt to murder, dacoity, incitement and armed assault on police.
According to official police data, the protests resulted in 250 police officers and personnel being injured, while one inspector was martyred. Lahore recorded the highest number of casualties, with 142 officers injured, followed by 48 injured in Sheikhupura.
Authorities said the crackdown would continue until all key organizers and instigators were detained.
Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari dismissed allegations by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) that the government had “withheld information” about the Muridke operation launched to disperse the TLP rally, which the group said was held in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Bukhari maintained that the government had made genuine attempts to persuade the TLP to call off its march on the US embassy in Islamabad, but the group did not cooperate.
In a related development, an anti-terrorism court sent 98 detained TLP workers to prison on judicial remand and handed over the other 20 to concerned police officers for 18 days on physical remand for further investigation.
ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul led the proceedings on police remand applications relating to 118 TLP activists arrested in connection with violent clashes and attacks on law enforcement personnel.
As per court proceedings, Muridke police station police arrested 98 suspects while Chung and Baghbanpura police produced 20 accused before the court.
