TLP rally causes traffic jams

Police resort to tear gas shelling to disperse protestors

ISLAMABAD/ RAWALPINDI:

The locals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi faced difficulties as the traffic movement was stalled and cellular service remained suspended due to the Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) rally.

The main roads including IJP Road, Peshawar Road, Sabzi Mandi Road and other adjoining roads remained jammed for hours.

TLP had announced a protest rally against the publication of blasphemous cartoons. The Punjab government had disallowed the party from entering the capital.

Hundreds of activists of TLP marched towards Islamabad after scaling all impediments. A policeman and a journalist were reportedly injured as the demonstration turned violent after tear-gas shelling.

TLP had announced to stage a protest rally from Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi to Faizabad Interchange in Islamabad against disrespect of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Rawalpindi administration had blocked different roads leading to Islamabad with containers. However, all resources used could not stop demonstrators. Metro Bus Service (MBS) and cellular service remained suspended from 9am to 4pm.

Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Muhammad Ahsan Younus remained in the field to monitor the security situation and direct the operation.

As the day advanced, TLP activists suddenly sprouted up from different parts of the city and gathered at Liaquat Bagh Chowk. They started marching towards their destination when the police fired tear-gas shells and the situation turned violent.

The demonstrators retaliated by pelting stones at the police force owing to which a policeman and a journalist were reportedly injured. The police however managed to arrest 40 protesters.

Later, as the situation normalised, the protesters resumed marching towards Islamabad.

As per the latest reports, Islamabad police are ready to deal with any situation. It has also been equipped with tear-gas while all roads leading to Red Zone have been sealed with containers to restrict the advancement of TLP activists and leaders.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2020.