RAWALPINDI: Thousands of protestors belonging to the Tehreek e Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) choked Rawalpindi and clashed with the police on Sunday, whilst calling for the removal of French Ambassador Mr. Marc Baréty in the aftermath of the offensive cartoons controversy.
TLP leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi used unsavoury and threatening language towards the Rawalpindi administration, resulting in a deadlock between the protestors and the police.
TPD Investigations Desk can confirm that the Station House Officer (SHO) Waris Khan police station, Abdul Aziz and several other policemen were injured during the clashes with TLP supporters.
24 entry points in Rawalpindi were sealed with shipping containers, including Soan Bridge, Kutchery Chowk, Mareer Chowk, Liaquat Bagh, Shamasabad, Rehmanabad, Double Road, Adiala Road, Chur Chowk and I.J. Principal Road.
16 entry points to Islamabad from Rawalpindi were also blocked in order to prevent the TLP supporters from reaching the Diplomatic Enclave, where senior foreign diplomats reside.
Mobile signals remained suspended in many areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in order to disrupt the communication channels between the protestors.
Earlier, Rawalpindi administration had pleaded to the TLP to end their protest due to the spread of COVID-19 but this was rejected by the TLP.
A notification issued by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Islamabad said, “It is expected that participants in the rally could go violent and proceed towards French embassy by breaking their promises with the district administration”.
It is estimated that at least 10,000 TLP protestors are present in Rawalpindi at the present situation.
