11 October, 2025
Web desk
Protests led by the hardline religious group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have brought daily life in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to a halt for the second consecutive day. The group claims that 11 of its supporters were killed and over 50 injured during clashes with police, though officials have not confirmed any casualties. The unrest began after TLP called for a pro-Palestine march toward the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, prompting security forces to move swiftly to prevent the rally.
Authorities raided the group’s Lahore headquarters earlier this week and sealed key entry points to the capital using shipping containers and barricades. Police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators attempting to enter Islamabad, while protesters responded with stone-pelting and blocked major roads. Public transport, including the Metro bus service, has been suspended, and schools and businesses across the twin cities remain closed amid heightened tensions.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned that no group would be allowed to “take the law into their own hands,” emphasizing that the government would not tolerate attempts to disrupt public order. Security has been tightened across major intersections, particularly in the Faizabad area a recurring flashpoint for TLP demonstrations in the past.
Meanwhile, mobile internet services remain suspended in several parts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi as police continue to make arrests. TLP leaders have vowed to continue their protest until what they call “justice for their slain workers” is achieved, while the government maintains that dialogue can only occur once the group ends its violent demonstrations.
