Punjab cracks down on TLP activists

Police list 4,500 for arrest; ATC remands 98 detainees

LAHORE:

In the wake of the violent protests by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Punjab Police have drawn up extensive lists of the party's leaders and senior activists for province-wide arrests, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

According to police sources, Inspector General (IG) Punjab Dr Usman Anwar has finalised lists identifying 4,500 prominent TLP leaders and workers across the province.

The lists have been dispatched to the CCPO Lahore and all Regional Police Officers (RPOs) with instructions to initiate immediate arrests.

Sources said Lahore alone accounts for 1,350 individuals, while Sheikhupura Division has a list of 350, Sahiwal Division 330, Gujranwala Division 450 and Faisalabad Region 430. The IG has directed that all "key leaders and workers of the proscribed organisation" be taken into custody without delay.

The move comes amid an ongoing crackdown following violent demonstrations in Lahore, Muridke and adjoining areas, where TLP supporters clashed with law enforcement agencies, vandalised public property and blocked highways.

Meanwhile, the police have so far registered 25 criminal cases related to the unrest and confirmed the arrest of 253 suspects, while further detentions are expected as geofencing and CCTV footage analyses continue.

Police records show that 2,716 TLP-linked protesters have been arrested so far 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 -- under charges of terrorism, attempted 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 reported the highest number of casualties, with 142 officers wounded, followed by 48 injuries in Sheikhupura.

Officials said the crackdown would continue until all key organisers and instigators were detained.

Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari dismissed the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's (HRCP) allegations that the government had "withheld information" about the Muridke operation launched to disperse the TLP rally, which the group claimed was held in solidarity with Palestinians.

Bukhari maintained that the government had made genuine attempts to persuade the TLP to call off its march towards the US Embassy in Islamabad, but the group remained uncooperative.

In a related development, an anti-terrorism court sent 98 detained workers of TLP to jail on judicial remand and handed over the other 20 to concerned police officials on 18 days' physical remand for further investigation.

ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul conducted the proceedings on the police's remand requests concerning 118 TLP activists arrested in connection with violent clashes and attacks on law enforcement personnel.

According to court proceedings, police from Muridke police station produced 98 arrested suspects, while Chung and Baghbanpura police presented 20 accused before the court.