Police under fire over ‘failure’ to stop TLP march

Measures such as the flag marches after failing to contain the march of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) first in Lahore and then on GT Road Sheikhupura have turned Lahore police into a mocking figure among the police circle.

They are being mocked by such statements as “Ghazi Aa Gai Nai” on seeing these marches. The gossip doing the rounds is that the top command of Lahore police, instead of doing some face saving, is reviewing the lapses in their strategy, capacity and capability of specialised wings like the Anti-Riot Force (ARF).

Lahore CCPO Ghulam Mehmood Dogar before leaving for Muridke had made a fiery speech at Qila Gujjar Singh police lines.

“State is mother to us. We will fight them because they have challenged our mother. We will fight the enemy that is haunting our state with vigor and spirit. They have raised the banner of rebellion against our country, and no one allows the rebellion,” Dogar had said.

“We will show the whole Pakistan this police are an enthusiastic police. We will walk side by side and won’t nudge a single inch. We will prove ourselves as a wall erected before them,” he had resolved.

READ TLP won't be allowed to challenge writ of state at any cost: NSC

Around 15,000 policemen of Lahore Police and almost all the senior police officers including CCPO Ghulam Mehmood Dogar and DIG Operations Sohail Chaudhry had responded to Muridke on GT Road to assist Gujranwala police.

Before sending them to Muridke, IG Rao Sardar had given them a dressing down for their utter failure to stop TLP inside Lahore despite clear instructions.

It had also been pointed out that this was the largest police establishment across Pakistan in terms of human resources, capacity and equipment.

The IGP had clearly pointed out to them to stop the protestors at any cost.

The thousands of policemen included each and every member of the ARF. The squad was built up after spending of billions of rupees. They were equipped with modern equipment, and training was imparted by foreign trainers.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2021.