TLP TLP announces long march, police detain over 1000 members in Lahore
Lahore: Police in the Pakistani city of Lahore have detained over 1,000 activists and workers of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) during a crackdown that was intensified across the province after the group announced a long march on Islamabad after Friday prayers.
Dozens of fourth schedulers of the proscribed group were also among those taken into custody from all 36 districts of the province besides at least 40 in Lahore, an official privy to the development told Dawn on Thursday.
He told the newspaper the situation was not as alarming in other parts of the province as it was in Lahore where around 900 workers and second-tier leadership of the TLP were protesting outside the Jamia Masjid Rehmatul Lil Aalamin on Multan Road.
Situation became tense after a group of charged workers vandalised the Multan Road Orange Line train station near the protest venue, damaging CCTV cameras and infrastructure there.
According to reports, TLP workers also blocked roads in some parts of the city.
Following the incidents, the Lahore police lodged five cases against TLP workers.
Announcing the long march on Islamabad, TLP leader Pir Ajmal Qadri was quoted as saying by Dawn News the “peaceful” procession would begin after Friday prayers.
“If any hurdles are created, the party also has a Plan B to thwart any official attempts,” he told a charged crowd at the protest site.
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