ISLAMABAD: Public life largely returned to normal in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad and the nearby Rawalpindi garrison city on Monday, the local administration said, following a police crackdown on pro-Palestine marchers camped in the eastern Punjab province.
The march was organized by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) religio-political party and aimed to stage a protest outside the US embassy in Islamabad to express solidarity with Palestine. It sparked clashes in several cities as authorities attempted to keep the marchers from heading to the capital.
The situation triggered road blockades and prompted authorities to suspend mobile Internet in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other cities on Friday, paralyzing public life for days. On Monday, police dispersed the marchers who had been camped in Punjab’s Muridke city on their way to Islamabad from Lahore.
A clash between authorities and protesters killed at least five people, including a police officer and injured dozens of others, police and witnesses said on Monday. Punjab Police Chief Usman Anwar said the demonstrators opened fire on authorities, killing the officer and wounding others. Police said three protesters and one passerby also died in the clashes before the demonstrators were dispersed.
“Normal life and business activities have been fully restored in the city,” the Islamabad administration said in a statement on Monday evening. “No protests or demonstrations are taking place in any area of the city.”
It said no roads have been blocked in the capital, however, the flow of traffic was slow due to obstacles at a few places.
“There is a restriction on protests or demonstrations in the city,” the administration. “Citizens are requested not to be a part of any illegal activity.”
Videos released by TLP on Monday showed several vehicles burning, including a truck carrying party officials who were leading what they have called the “long march” to Islamabad.
The TLP said in a statement on Monday that hundreds of march participants were injured and the casualty figure was high among its supporters. Monday’s clashes began when protesters tried to remove shipping containers placed by police to block roads. Supporters clashed with police in Lahore last week, before camping 30 kilometers away in Muridke.
The US Embassy issued a security alert last week ahead of the march, warning of possible disruptions and urging US citizens to exercise caution.
The TLP, known for staging disruptive and sometimes violent demonstrations, has drawn mixed reactions online. Some in Pakistan have accused the government of overreacting to the march by blocking major roads even before the protest began.
Pakistan Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry said over the weekend that he failed to understand why TLP opted for violence instead of celebrating peace in Gaza.
TLP gained prominence in Pakistan’s 2018 elections by campaigning on the single issue of defending the country’s blasphemy law, which calls for the death penalty for anyone who insults Islam. Since then, the party has staged violent rallies, mainly against desecration abroad of Islam’s holy book, Qur’an.
The party has held pro-Palestinian rallies in recent years in Lahore and other cities. This march was planned to travel toward the US embassy to express support for Palestinians.
