2025 Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan protests

Last updated

Labbaik Ya Aqsa Million March
Part of Gaza war protests
Date9 October – 14 October 2025
Location
Lahore to Muridke to Islamabad–Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Caused by Gaza genocide
GoalsSolidarity with Palestinians amid Gaza war; protest march to U.S. Embassy
MethodsRoad blockades; sit-ins; clashes; internet and communications & social media shutdown
StatusEnded; TLP party banned by Pakistan on October 23, 2025, for "involvement in terrorism and violence"
Parties
Lead figures

TLP's party flag.jpg Saad Hussain Rizvi
TLP's party flag.jpg Syed Zaheer-ul-Hasan
TLP's party flag.jpg Syed Ahmed Bukhari

Contents

Number
8,000–10,000 protestors [1]
5,500 Police [2]
1,000 Federal Constabulary
500 Rangers
Casualties and losses
3 TLP protestors killed (Police claim) [3]
11 TLP protestors killed (TLP claim) [4]
100–700 arrested [1]
1 Police SHO killed [3]
48–112 police injured [3]
1 bystander killed [5]
40 government & private vehicles set on fire [3]

On 9 October 2025, the Islamist political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) launched a protest march from Lahore and Faisalabad toward Islamabad under the banner of the Labbaik Ya Aqsa Million March. The movement called for a rally outside the US Embassy in Islamabad in solidarity with the Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza genocide. The planned march triggered a major security response: authorities imposed Section 144 in Rawalpindi to restrict public gatherings, suspended 3G/4G mobile data services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and placed shipping containers alongside a heavy police deployment to seal off the Red Zone around the capital. Clashes erupted in Lahore when Punjab Police raided the TLP headquarters on Multan Road to arrest party leader Saad Rizvi. Police used tear gas and live fire to disperse demonstrators. According to reports, at least 11 TLP workers were killed and dozens more were injured during the live fire and shelling by the police. [6] The government maintained that the TLP had not obtained the required permission for the march, attributing the unrest to internal party disputes. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf member Sheikh Waqas Akram has compared the incident to Model Town Massacre and has said the government could not carry out a transparent probe into the massacre, hence independent observers and human rights organisations must be included to ensure a fair investigation. [14]

Background

The group has used marches and protests in the past, chanting slogans such as "Labbayk Ya Aqsa" (which roughly translates to "I am here for Al-Aqsa") and "Pro-Palestinian." The "Labbaik Ya Aqsa Million March" continues this tradition. Sources reported that the TLP leadership used inflammatory speeches and rhetoric, which authorities deemed abusive or provocative. That leading the way in measures predicting widespread unrest, authorities imposed Section 144 (ban on assemblies), suspended mobile internet (3G/4G) services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, placed shipping containers to block roads leading to the capital, and detained TLP activists. [9] [15] [10] [8]

Timeline

October 8–9: Preparations intensified ahead of the march. Authorities in Rawalpindi imposed Section 144, prohibiting public gatherings, and detained around 117 key TLP activists. Containers were placed near the Faizabad Interchange and other major routes, while security was tightened across the twin cities. [15]

October 9–10: Mobile internet services (3G/4G) were suspended in Islamabad and Rawalpindi from midnight to 10 pm on October 9. [9]

October 9 (Lahore): Clashes erupted in Lahore after a police raid on the TLP headquarters aimed at arresting its leader, Saad Rizvi. TLP supporters responded with stone pelting and iron rods, prompting police to use tear gas. At least three policemen were injured. [16]

October 10: The march was scheduled for October 10, 2025. Authorities had already closed major roads and sealed off the Red Zone around Islamabad. [10]

October 11: TLP supporters regrouped near Muridke and announced their intent to continue the march toward Islamabad. Clashes were reported along the GT Road corridor, leaving several injured. Police detained over 100 activists following the unrest. [17]

October 12: The standoff escalated as protesters camped in Muridke. According to officials, dozens of police officers were injured, while TLP claimed multiple fatalities among its members. The Punjab government deployed additional police and Rangers, and roads toward Islamabad remained sealed. [18] [19]

October 13: Violence escalated near Lahore and Muridke as police attempted to disperse the advancing TLP march. According to officials, at least five people, including a police SHO, were killed and dozens were injured when clashes broke out between security forces and protesters. Police used tear gas and aerial firing to contain the crowd, while TLP claimed multiple deaths among its members. [20] [21] [22]

October 14: The Punjab government extended the enforcement of Section 144 in Rawalpindi and Islamabad for an additional 48 hours amid continued tensions. Internet and mobile data services remained suspended across the twin cities, and heavy police deployment continued along the GT Road to prevent further TLP advances. TLP leaders accused the authorities of carrying out an "unprovoked crackdown," while officials claimed the party had refused to negotiate peacefully. [23] [24] [25]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Dogar, Babar (11 October 2025). "Arrests at pro-Palestinian protest after violence flares in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore". AP News.
  2. ↑ "TLP protest". Business Recorder. 12 October 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gabol, Imran; Ali, Kaibe; Chaudhry, Asif (13 October 2025). "Police say protesters dispersed in Muridke; SHO martyred, 3 TLP workers killed in clash". Dawn.
  4. ↑ Khawaja, Usama Iqbal (11 October 2025). "Nearly 100 police injured in clashes as Tehreek-e-Labbaik march heads toward Islamabad". Arab News.
  5. ↑ Bukhari, Mubasher (13 October 2025). "Clashes in an anti-Israel rally in Pakistan kill five, police say". Reuters .
  6. ↑ "Anti-Israel protests rock Pakistan: Police fire on Gaza protesters - what we know so far about violence that killed 11 in 3 days". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  7. ↑ "Violence erupts in eastern Pakistan as Islamists try to march on capital for pro-Palestinian rally". Associated Press News .
  8. 1 2 Chaudhry, Asif (9 October 2025). "Clashes break out in Lahore after raid on TLP HQ goes awry". Dawn. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 Mughal, Saleh (10 October 2025). "TLP protest: 3G, 4G services suspended in Islamabad, Pindi". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 Saifullah (9 October 2025). "Security tightened in Islamabad ahead of possible TLP march". Pashto News and Current Affairs Channel | Khyber News. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "Islamabad moves to thwart TLP protest". The Express Tribune. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  12. ↑ Chaudhry, Asif (10 October 2025). "Efforts to keep TLP contained keep Lahore on edge". Dawn. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  13. ↑ "'Labbaik Al-Aqsa' march against Israel on Friday, October 10, police crackdown on Lahore TLP center". Dawn TV. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  14. ↑ Junaidi, Ikram (14 October 2025). "PTI draws parallels between Muridke and Model Town incidents". Dawn. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  15. 1 2 Mughal, Saleh (9 October 2025). "Section 144 imposed in Rawalpindi ahead of TLP rally". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  16. ↑ "Clashes break out in Lahore after raid on TLP HQ goes awry". Dawn. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  17. ↑ "TLP march turns violent as clashes erupt with police in Lahore". The Tribune India. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  18. ↑ "Pakistan TLP march turns violent, several killed in clashes". India Today. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  19. ↑ "Twin cities remain under lockdown as TLP protest enters third day". The News International. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  20. ↑ Bukhari, Mubasher. "Clashes in an anti-Israel rally in Pakistan kill five, police say". Reuters. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  21. ↑ "Pakistan police officer among five killed as authorities disperse pro-Palestinian march". Associated Press. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  22. ↑ "Violence erupts in eastern Pakistan as Islamists try to march on capital for pro-Palestinian rally". Associated Press. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  23. ↑ "Islamabad remains on high alert as TLP sit-in continues near Muridke". Dawn. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  24. ↑ "Internet services remain suspended in twin cities amid TLP protest tensions". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  25. ↑ "Section 144 extended as TLP protest enters sixth day". The News International. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
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