ISLAMABAD: A demonstration called by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) religious party has brought the Pakistani capital of Islamabad and other cities to a standstill, prompting authorities to close roads and causing interruptions in mobile phone services.
The TLP this week announced a march on the federal capital, intending to hold a protest outside the United States (US) embassy in support of Palestinians.
Officials conducted a raid on the party’s headquarters in Lahore late Wednesday to prevent the TLP from executing its plans. The raid led to confrontations that persisted on Thursday.
Shipping containers have been positioned on major roads in Islamabad, Lahore, and additional cities to obstruct the protesters, alongside reports of numerous arrests of TLP supporters.
“Entry of all heavy traffic into Islamabad will be prohibited until further notice,” the traffic police announced on X, providing alternative routes for the public.
School authorities in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad sent students home early on Friday due to the law-and-order situation, as stated by the school association.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) was ordered by the Ministry of Interior to halt 3G and 4G services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
A directive from October 9 indicated that the ministry had “granted permission to halt 3G/4G services in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, commencing from 12am tonight until further notice.” It instructed the PTA to undertake “additional necessary measures” in this matter in collaboration with local authorities and police in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The TLP has earlier organized protests, mainly endorsing blasphemy laws and urging the government to sever diplomatic relations with Western countries where desecrations of the Holy Qur’an have occurred.
Certain protests escalated into violence and persisted for several days.
Amidst a restriction on public gatherings, Karachi police arrested over a dozen TLP activists and members of a local human rights group in October of last year for holding separate protests over a blasphemy case.
Hundreds of TLP members set up camp outside the Faizabad junction, which connects Islamabad and Rawalpindi, in July 2024, demanding that the Pakistani government declare the Israeli prime minister a “terrorist” and formally boycott Israeli goods. After discussions with the authorities, the week-long demonstration came to an end.