Pakistan is reeling from severe violence as the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party orchestrated large-scale demonstrations against the controversial Gaza Peace Plan. During the intense clashes, TLP chief Maulana Sadiq Rizvi sustained three gunshot wounds, and his brother Anas Rizvi was also injured. The demonstrations escalated into deadly confrontations, with preliminary reports indicating the deaths of approximately 250 TLP protesters and 48 members of the police force. The unrest originated when the TLP announced a protest outside the US Embassy in Islamabad, vehemently opposing the Gaza peace agreement. Rizvi and his followers attempted to travel from Lahore to Islamabad for a sit-in, but their path was obstructed by government containers. This led to a standoff, with Rizvi reportedly setting up his protest camp on one of the containers. The Lahore-Islamabad highway became completely impassable due to the protest. In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government ordered a forceful clearance of the highway by Rangers and Punjab police. The ensuing attempts to disperse the demonstrators quickly devolved into open firing and widespread chaos, resulting in a significant number of fatalities on both sides. The government forces engaged heavily with the protesters, creating scenes of devastation on the streets. This wave of violence in Pakistan contrasts sharply with the peace efforts in Gaza, highlighting a complex geopolitical situation and internal dissent.
