LAHORE: A banned Pakistani religious party on Thursday announced a “long march” to Islamabad, prompting authorities to block several thoroughfares in the federal capital and other major cities in the country.
The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has been protesting the incarceration of its top leader along with the government’s refusal to expel a European envoy, whose country defended the publication of anti-Islam caricatures in the name of free speech and expression.
Founded in August 2015, the group has made the sanctity of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) central to its politics. It has opposed any changes to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws in the past and sought the expulsion of the French ambassador to Pakistan after the repeated publication of caricatures disparaging Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his country.
TLP leader Saad Rizvi was arrested in Lahore in April for threatening the government with anti-France rallies. His detention was followed by violent demonstrations by the supporters of his party in different cities that lasted for about a week.
According to official figures, six policemen were killed and over 800 people were injured during these protest rallies.
“TLP activists from all over the country have been directed to launch a long march toward Islamabad on Friday,” Syed Sarwar Husain Shah, an executive member of the party’s top consultative body, announced in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore.
Shah said it would be a peaceful march, though he added that TLP supporters reserved the right to respond if the government tried to obstruct their way.
After the call for a march, authorities have suspended the Metro Bus service in Rawalpindi and blocked roads in Islamabad and Lahore as well. Police contingents have been deployed in these cities to deal with the situation.
On the direction of the province’s home department, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) suspended internet services with immediate effect in sensitive areas of Lahore, including Samnabad, Gulshan-e-Ravi, Sabzazar and Iqbal Town, to keep the situation under control. Internet services were disrupted in some neighborhoods of Rawalpindi as well.
Containers have been placed in multiple areas of Lahore to keep the protesters from assembling in large numbers.
The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) have also issued a traffic plan and asked citizens to use the 9th Avenue and for those who want to traveI to Rawalpindi from Faizabad, to use the IJP Road.
Faizul Islam Stop, Murree Road have been closed for traffic, according to an ITP spokesperson. Those who intended to travel from Islamabad to Murree Road should instead take the Islamabad Highway.
The Jinnah Avenue road from Express Chowk to D-Chowk has been sealed and citizens have been asked to use NADRA Chowk and Ayub Chowk to enter and exit the city's Red Zone area.
Punjab government spokesperson Hasaan Khawar earlier said the government was going to deal with TLP workers within the legal ambit.
“However, if someone tries to take law into their own hands, jeopardise the life and security of people, the writ of the government will be enforced,” he said. “Therefore, it’s always better to resolve such issues through dialogue instead of taking to the streets.”
According to the Punjab Transporters Association, police in Lahore had seized more than 100 containers in a possible attempt to prevent the long march.
The information was also corroborated by police sources who said the step was taken to deal with any unpleasant situation on Friday.
The Lahore High Court recently declared Rizvi’s detention as illegal while approving a petition filed by his uncle against his continued incarceration.
The Punjab government, however, filed an appeal against the court’s verdict, saying the bench had not considered the intent and purpose of putting the TLP leader’s name in a list of proscribed individuals and entities to ensure the maintenance of public order.
The Punjab government also informed it had intelligence reports that TLP activists were planning a major protest rally in November and were waiting for Rizvi’s release.
