LAHORE: At least one policeman was killed and over 45 personnel were injured after protesters belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) clashed with Punjab Police near Sadhoke, Gujranwala, on Wednesday.
The fresh clashes between the banned TLP and the police came as the outfit resumed its march towards Islamabad after talks with the government fell through.
The slain policeman was identified as ASI Akbar, a resident of Kasur.
The TLP said the government did not want to negotiate in a serious manner whereas the government said the TLP should let go of its demand pertaining to the expulsion of the French envoy. It said all other demands, including the release of its chief Saad Rizvi, were acceptable.
In a statement, TLP claimed that police used force to disperse the protesters near Sadhoke, injuring over 50 workers. The banned outfit also claimed that police used teargas, water cannons, and bullets to target the crowd.
“Instead of trying to resolve the issue, the use of violence by the government was further complicating the situation,” said a TLP spokesperson.
Earlier in the day, TLP Central Committee member Wazir Ali said the TLP march would remain “peaceful”, but if the police used force against the workers of the banned outfit, the party would go on a countrywide strike.
In the morning, the party started its march towards Islamabad from Muridke where it had staged a sit-in for the past three days. The decision to halt the march at Muridke was taken after Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid assured them the government would meet their demands.
The provincial government has deployed a large number of police officials on GT Road to stop the 10,000-strong TLP march. It has also dug up trenches on the highway before Chenab River in a bid to stop the supporters of the religious outfit.
As per sources, the Punjab government has also imposed a temporary ban on buses plying on GT Road and placed containers on the road to obstruct the movement of the rally.
Meanwhile, in Rawalpindi, the police have sealed Murree Road for all kinds of traffic. With the closure of major highways in the city, daily life has come to a standstill with citizens facing severe difficulties. All educational institutions and all of Murree Road and adjoining roads have been shutdown.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting at Bani Gala wherein it was decided not to give any leeway to the TLP.
The meeting was attended by army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, Federal Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Bazdar and the province’s chief secretary among others.
The premier was briefed on the negotiations with the TLP. It was decided that further talks with the religious outfit would be held only if it ended its protest march.
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