TLP workers march to Islamabad continues, 52 cops injured in clashes at GT road
Staff Reporter Lahore
The government has held talks with four members of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat said Saturday, amid threats by the outfit to hold a long march towards Islamabad.
The law minister’s statement came during a meeting of the committee formed for negotiations which was chaired by Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed.
The law minister informed the committee that in the last three days, the government has spoken to the banned outfit four times.
The banned outfit announced a “peaceful protest” on Friday after jummah prayers to demand the release of their leader Saad Rizvi.
A day earlier, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar announced the government’s decision to form a committee to hold talks with the banned outfit. “We have formed a committee, consisting of senior members of the Punjab Cabinet Raja
Basharat and Chaudhry Zaheeruddin to negotiate with the [banned] Tehreek-e-Labbaik,” Buzdar wrote on Twitter.
“According to the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PUBH), we all need to work together for peace and harmony in the country,” he added.
Meanwhile, Islamabad and Rawalpindi administrations had heightened the security in both the cities and blocked the traffic at Faizabad by installing containers.
While the local administration in Wazirabad made trenches at the River Chenab Bridge to stop the long march of the TLP. Police are also deputed at the bridge.
A serious clash between police and long march participants was observed at the Rana Town at GT Road near Kala Shah Kaku in which dozens of policemen were injured and the protesters removed hurdles from the road to continue their long march toward Islamabad.
During the clash, police made tear gas shelling on the protesters while the TLP workers pelted stones on the security forces in their defence.
Anyhow, the police were forced to retreat by the protesters. Later, the injured policemen were shifted to hospitals for their treatment.
According to the police, seven policemen were admitted to Services Hospital, two to Mayo Hospital, six to Mian Munshi Hospital, and four to Farooq Hospital, Nawaz Sharif Hospital, Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital and Ganga Rama Hospital.
Among the injured policemen, DSP Naveed, Inspector Masood, SHO Kahna, SHO Gawalmandi, Inspector Saadat, Sub Inspector Hasnain, constables Adress, Nazar Hussain, Usman, Shahid, Khalid, Shaukat Ali and Maqsood Ali are also included.
The Lahore administration has partially restored Lahore Metro Bus Service and Orange Line Metro Train Services on Saturday.
Four stations of the Orange Line Train which were damaged during the TLP protests could not be made operational as yet.
The city administration of Lahore has also opened several roads which were blocked earlier due to the defunct TLP protests.
The roads which have been opened for traffic are included: Babu Sabu, Saggian Bridge, Shahdara, Thokar Niaz Beg, Ferozpur Road, Jail Road, Wahdat Road, Mall Road and Canal Road.
The Lower Mall Road, Ravi Bridge, Secretariat Chowk, Mozang Chungi, Chohang, Mohanwal and GT Road have also been opened. The only road from Moon Market to Scheme Morr is still closed for traffic.
While the internet services were suspended in different areas the city of Lahore has now restored. Deputy Commissioner of Lahore Umar Sher Chattha also visited different areas of the city and instructed the subordinates to restore the facilities for the general public.
