Pakistan: 11 killed as police, Islamists clash in Lahore during pro-Palestinian march

Violent clashes erupted in Lahore on Saturday between police and the hardline Islamist group Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), as security forces tried to stop protesters marching towards Islamabad to hold a pro-Palestinian rally, The Dawn reported.

Calling the Punjab police “Israeli goons,” TLP claimed that officers opened fire “indiscriminately” on demonstrators, killing 11 of its members and injuring over 50. Police have not confirmed the casualty figures.

Protesters launch ‘Gaza March’ towards Islamabad

The protests, which began on Thursday over Israel’s military actions in Gaza, intensified after TLP launched what it called the “Gaza March” from its headquarters on Multan Road in Lahore on Friday. Led by TLP chief Saad Rizvi, thousands of supporters carrying sticks and rods marched towards the capital, chanting religious slogans.

According to Dawn, police used barricades and tear gas to block the procession at multiple intersections, including Yateem Khana Chowk, Chauburji, Azadi Chowk, and Shahdara. However, protesters broke through several barriers and continued advancing.

Footage circulating online showed protesters occupying parts of the Orange Line Metro track and pelting stones at police, injuring several officers. Videos also showed demonstrators commandeering government vehicles, including cranes from the Lahore Waste Management Company and Punjab Police.

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“Eleven TLP people have been killed since the morning. Continuous shelling and firing is happening,” a TLP leader said in a viral video, with gunfire audible in the background.

Clashes were particularly fierce near Azadi Chowk, where several police vehicles were set on fire. Police used tear gas and baton charges to disperse crowds, while TLP workers hurled stones. Lahore police said dozens of officers were injured, while TLP claimed multiple fatalities among its members — allegations that could not be independently verified.

TLP vows to continue march

TLP chief Saad Rizvi urged his followers to remain steadfast, saying, “Arrest is not a problem, bullets are not a problem, shells are not a problem — martyrdom is our destiny.”

Authorities have placed shipping containers and barricades along key roads and dug trenches to block the route to Islamabad, located about 370 km from Lahore. Internet services were suspended in the capital and nearby Rawalpindi, while businesses and schools remained closed for a second day.

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Government response and security measures

The unrest coincides with Israel and Hamas agreeing to the first phase of a Gaza peace deal mediated by US President Donald Trump. The US Embassy in Islamabad has advised its citizens to avoid large gatherings and remain alert.

Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, accused TLP of “misusing” the Gaza issue for “political gain,” warning that the government “will not tolerate violence or blackmail by any group.”

“Peaceful protest within the democratic and constitutional framework is a right,” Chaudhry said, “but there is no space for mobs to use violence or threaten the state.”

An anti-terrorism court in Lahore has remanded 110 TLP activists in police custody for 12 days on charges of attacking officers and damaging public property.

Founded in 2015, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan is known for organising massive street protests that often paralyse major cities. By late Saturday, tensions remained high across Punjab province, with authorities maintaining heavy security along main routes to Islamabad to prevent further escalation.