Violent clashes erupted in Pakistan’s Punjab province between police and members of the Islamist group Tehrik‑e‑Labaik Pakistan, leaving five people dead. The group had organized a march to protest U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent ceasefire deal aimed at ending the Gaza war. The demonstration covered nearly 400 km from Lahore to the capital Islamabad, beginning on Friday, and turned violent when demonstrators confronted police.
Local media reported that a police officer was shot and killed and several others were wounded. Three protesters and one passerby also died during the three‑hour clash, and about 50 police personnel sustained serious injuries. Numerous protesters were arrested. Tehrik‑e‑Labaik claimed that police opened fire on its supporters, causing multiple deaths and injuries, and its leader Saad Rizvi was hit by three bullets.
Pakistani authorities deployed 1,500 policemen equipped with anti‑riot gear, four armored personnel carriers and water cannons to surround the protest camp along the Grand Trunk Road. The police action aimed to disperse the demonstrators, who were opposing Pakistan’s support for the U.S.–backed peace initiative. The incident highlights deep divisions within Pakistan over the Gaza conflict and the U.S.–brokered ceasefire.
Tehrik‑e‑Labaik Pakistan, a hardline Islamist group known for its vocal opposition to the United States and Israel, has a history of violent protests. The latest clashes underscore the challenges faced by the Pakistani government in balancing its foreign relations with the United States and other nations against strong anti‑U.S. and anti‑Israel sentiments among segments of its population. Tensions remain high in Punjab, with authorities urging calm and restraint, while the incident is likely to have significant implications for Pakistan’s diplomatic ties and its navigation of complex regional alliances and rivalries.
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