Protests and demonstrations by TLP leaders and activists have been going on in various cities of the country since the arrest of Amir Saad Hussain Rizvi of Tehreek-e-Lubaik Pakistan (TLP) in Lahore.
Lahore Police Chief Ghulam Muhammad Dogar told AP that Saad Rizvi was arrested from Lahore to maintain law and order.
He did not provide further details but condemned the protests and sit-ins by Tehreek-e-Libek activists and supporters and appealed to the public not to damage property and not to take the law into their own hands.
After the arrest of Saad Hussain Rizvi, protests are being staged by Tehreek-e-Libek activists in various places in the country, including Shar-e-Quaid.
Call for nationwide protests
In a video message, TLP Deputy Amir Syed Zaheerul Hassan Shah said, “Let the nation see that the government has completely violated the agreement reached with Tehreek-e-Libek.”
Confirming the arrest of Saad Hussain Rizvi, Syed Zaheerul Hassan Shah said, “The government has resorted to bullying and is using its old methods.”
Zaheerul Hassan Shah called on TLP leaders and activists across Pakistan to take to the streets in their respective areas and protest against the government’s move.
“Demonstrate in the streets wherever you are and block the whole country,” he said in a video message.
It is to be noted that Tehreek-e-Libek had given the government till April 20 to deport the French ambassador and if not, it had announced nationwide protests and demonstrations.
Due to sit-ins and protests by religious parties, citizens are facing severe difficulties due to the worst traffic jams in various cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi.
Karachi
After the arrest of Saad Hussain Rizvi, the protesters started protesting in several areas of Shar-e-Quaid including Baldia No. 4, Hub River Road, Northern Bypass, Orangi Town No. 5, Jinnah Bridge, and Star Gate.
In Orangi Town No. 5, TLP workers pelted stones at the police for arresting some workers, injuring a police constable.
The demonstrators threw stones and police officers have been injured in the incident.
Traffic flow was suspended in Municipality No. 4, traffic coming from Daba turn was diverted to 24 Market and from Sher Shah to Labor Square.
In addition, protests continued in Orangi Town No. 5, and traffic was diverted to Orangi No. 1/5 and ZMC.
Traffic flow from the ICI building at Jinnah Bridge in Karachi was also suspended and long queues of vehicles were formed up to the tower where talks were held between SHOs and protesters to restore traffic.
The protest also caused traffic jams at Star Gate and vehicles were diverted from Malir Halt to Model Road.
Activists of a religious party in Hub burned tires at Bab Balochistan and blocked the national highway for traffic.
In addition, traffic flow on both sides of the Karachi-Quetta National Highway was disrupted due to long queues of vehicles.
On the other hand, Haider Chowk in Hyderabad was also blocked after the protests of the religious party.
Lahore
Due to the protests of Tehreek-e-Lubaik Pakistan in Lahore, the worst traffic jams took place at the entrances and exits of the city including many roads.
Tehreek-e-Lubaik Pakistan activists sealed off 24 places in Lahore.
Demonstrators marched towards Faisal Chowk, Felleti Chowk, Regal Chowk to High Court Chowk, Awari Chowk, Corporation Chowk, Orphanage Chowk, Khayaban Chowk, Mohafiz Town, both sides of Daroghwala Chowk, Shahdara Chowk, Shadbagh, Burki Road, Bhat Chowk. Blocked Quaid-e-Azam Interchange and Niazi Interchange on Bedian Road, Canal Road, Misri Shah, Harbanspura Interchange, Shalimar Chowk, Ring Road.
Road Closed: National Highway N-5 (Lahore – Gujrat Section),
National Highway N-5 is closed at Muridkay city and Kamonki city, due to public protest.— National Highways & Motorway Police (NHMP) (@NHMPofficial) April 12, 2021
Rawalpindi
In Rawalpindi, protesters gathered near Committee Chowk and pelted stones at them, while traffic on Murree Road was also blocked due to the protest.
Religious party workers boarded the Liaquat Bagh metro bus station and blocked traffic across the city.
At the same time, the protesters started forcibly stopping the vehicles and also hurled insults at the citizens.
#Rawalpindi’s Murree road blocked by TLP workers. pic.twitter.com/KJmY5ChK0O
— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) April 12, 2021
Islamabad
A protest was also staged in Bhara Kahu in Islamabad due to which Athal Chowk was closed.
Multan
In Multan, TLP workers also staged a protest on the Bahawalpur bypass, causing long queues of vehicles.
Due to the protest of the religious party, the land route of Multan city was cut off from various cities of South Punjab.
Apart from this, protests were also staged by religious party workers in Basti Maluk, Ada Laar, Khanewal, and other areas.
Protesters chanted slogans in Multan while security was beefed up across the city.
