Calm in twin cities after Muridke cleared of TLP protesters

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Islamabad and Rawalpindi saw signs of normalcy on Monday after police cleared Tehreek-e-Libbaik Pakistan (TLP) protests from Mardke and reopened key transport routes.

According to police sources, the GT Road was restored to traffic after a late night operation on Sunday that ended the sit-in.

With the situation gradually stabilizing, all connecting roads between Islamabad and Rawalpindi have now been reopened for passengers. In Rawalpindi, educational institutions resumed operations after a four-day suspension, while commercial activity also picked up pace, as shops and business centers along Murree Road reopened. Traffic was reported to be flowing smoothly on Murray Road and other adjacent roads.

However, the road from Murray Road to Faizabad remained closed, and the metro bus service connecting the two cities was still non-operational.

Officials confirmed that mobile phone and data services have been fully restored in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, helping better communication for residents.

Additionally, several major arteries including IJP Road, Double Road, Expressway, and Double Road to Ninth Avenue were reopened for vehicular traffic, facilitating movement at major junctions in the city.

The clearance operation in Murdke followed several days of unrest after the TLP started a protest march from Lahore to Islamabad. The mobilization of this group caused widespread concern among government officials, political parties and the general public.

A Punjab Police spokesperson said on Monday that the law enforcement agencies (LEA) have dispersed the TLP protesters. Violent clashes broke out in Murdke as law enforcement agencies launched an operation to disperse TLP protesters identified as “instigators of unrest,” he said.

As soon as the operation began, TLP activists reportedly responded with stone pelting, and later escalated it by using sharp clubs and petrol bombs. A police spokesman confirmed that members of the TLP also resorted to indiscriminate firing, resulting in casualties among civilians and law enforcement personnel.

Tragically, one Station House Officer (SHO) on duty was martyred, and 48 policemen were injured, out of which 17 were injured in firing, he said.

According to police, three TLP members and a bystander were killed, while eight others were injured in the violence.

In the chaos, the group allegedly set fire to 40 government and private vehicles. Law enforcement responded in what was described as a “limited operation in self-defense” and managed to arrest several people involved. The search operation is still going on.

Meanwhile, in Gujranwala, massive clearance operations were underway to restore normalcy. Murdke is dotted with trenches carved on the GT Road, including Sadhoki and Chanda Qila. Containers that were placed between Murdke and Gujranwala, particularly at Sadhoki, Kamoki Toll Plaza, Lohianwala, and Ujla Canal, have been removed, and traffic has started to resume in the affected areas.

However, containers remain at Chanda Qila Bypass and Chenab River Bridge, where barricades continue to hamper traffic.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the university confirmed that Punjab University has notified the postponement of all examinations scheduled for today. However, the LLB exams will go ahead as scheduled from tomorrow, October 14.

In a related development, the railway department has canceled several passenger train services for the day. According to a railway spokesperson, the Faiz Ahmad Faiz passenger train from Lahore to Narowal has been suspended for a day, while the 171 Up Sialkot Express from Lahore to Sialkot and Wazirabad has also been cancelled.

Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) also announced a change in online classes in view of the current situation. According to an official notification, the class will be conducted online from Tuesday to Friday. The university also confirmed that classes for new semester students will start from October 20.

Additionally, the Supreme Court Bar Association’s annual elections will be held on October 16. A close contest is expected between the traditional rivals – the independent group and the candidates backed by the professional group.

On Sunday, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, appealed to the TLP leadership to call off their march. He urged the group to extend support to the government and the armed forces during the country’s difficult situation.

Sanaullah noted that various political and religious bodies have expressed serious concerns over the demonstration and demanded political unity in the national interest.

In Lahore, protests turned violent, leading to clashes between TLP supporters and law enforcement officials.

According to DIG Operations Faisal Kamran, at least 112 police officers were injured, and more than 100 protesters were detained. Reports indicated that protesters ransacked the Shahdra Town Police Station and damaged both public infrastructure and private property.

In a separate but related development, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Muhammad Shihbaz Sharif in Lahore on Sunday to discuss the overall law and order and security situation in the country.

The high-level meeting also included a detailed review of counter-terrorism strategies and other important national security concerns. Minister Naqvi apprised the Prime Minister about the current state of internal security and outlined the measures being implemented by the Ministry of Interior to maintain peace and stability.

Prime Minister Shehbaz appreciated Naqvi and his team for their efforts in handling the situation and emphasized the importance of maintaining consistent, coordinated and effective measures to protect lives and property of all citizens.

He reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment to ensure the rule of law and reiterated that the protection of public life and the complete eradication of terrorism are top priorities of the administration.