ISLAMABAD: Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan's founding leader, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, died in Lahore at the age of 54, confirmed one of his party spokespersons, Muhammad Ali, while talking to Arab News in Karachi.
The cause of death was not known immediately, though local media claimed he was unwell and suffering from fever for the last few days.
Rizvi's last political activity was to lead an anti-France demonstration outside Islamabad to protest the publication of caricatures disparaging Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in that country.
According to media reports, he complained of fever while he was still leading the campaign and was taken to Shaikh Zayed Hospital in Lahore on Thursday where he was pronounced dead.
His party emerged after Mumtaz Qadri, a police commando, assassinated Punjab governor, Salman Taseer, in January 2011 for defending a Pakistani Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, who was charged with blasphemy and sentenced to death.
Rizvi and his associates launched a campaign for Qadri's release since they thought he had acted to protect the honor of the prophet (pbuh).
The TLP leader and his party also held nationwide protests against Bibi's acquittal in October 2018.
Other than that, Rizvi led protests against a Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, who announced an anti-Islam cartoon competition.
A controversial preacher who used strong language to revile his critics, Rizvi was accused of weaponizing the issue of blasphemy in a country where religious sensitivities usually run high.
His recent demonstration forced the government to consider the possibility of expelling the French ambassador after taking up the issue in parliament.
Founder of hardline Pakistani Islamist party dies after leading sit-in
https://arab.news/wz2z5
Founder of hardline Pakistani Islamist party dies after leading sit-in
- Rizvi recently led an anti-France demonstration outside Islamabad, asking the government to expel the French ambassador
- The TLP leader shot to fame after running a campaign for Mumtaz Qadri's release who assassinated a sitting Punjab governor in 2011
Pakistan police say 27 cops killed in 134 attacks in restive Bannu district in 2025
- Bannu is a restive district in northwestern Pakistan where militants frequently attack law enforcers
- Police say at least 20 drone attacks by militants killed nine civilians, injured 19 cops during the year
PESHAWAR: Police in Pakistan’s northwestern Bannu district said this week that at least 27 police personnel were killed in 134 attacks while 53 militants were killed during various security operations in the volatile area during the year, as Islamabad grapples with a surge in militancy.
Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province is one of Pakistan’s most dangerous districts, where militants affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) frequently target law enforcers in attacks.
Regional Police Officer Sajjad Khan told reporters during a press briefing on Wednesday that at least 134 “terrorist attacks” were recorded in Bannu district during 2025 that targeted police stations, posts, checkpoints, police mobiles and police parties.
“As a result of these attacks, 27 police personnel were martyred and 79 were injured,” a statement issued by Bannu Police said on Wednesday.
It said at least 168 intelligence-based operations were conducted by police across the district during the year, in which 105 militants were arrested and 65 were killed.
Khan informed media that militants carried out 20 drone attacks targeting police installations and civilian areas in 2025, killing nine civilians and injuring 19 police personnel.
“However, following the installation of an anti-drone system in Bannu district on Jul. 18, 2025, the situation improved significantly,” the statement said. “More than 300 drone attacks were thwarted, and four drones were struck/spoofed.”
He said the Bannu police force has been equipped with drones, anti-drone guns, sniper rifles, armored personnel carriers (APCs), thermal imaging systems, tactical helmets and bulletproof vehicles.
“Bannu police reiterates its resolve to continue its struggle to maintain law and order in the district, completely eliminate terrorism and protect the lives and property of the public,” the statement concluded.
Pakistan blames the Afghan government for facilitating TTP attacks inside its territory, a charge Kabul denies. The surge in militant attacks has strained ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, leading to deadly border clashes in October that saw dozens killed and several wounded on both sides.
