Authorities have placed Islamabad on high alert and arrested senior leaders of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), including Naeem Chatha, escalating tensions ahead of the party’s planned protest march toward the US Embassy scheduled for Friday. The preemptive crackdown comes as security forces brace for thousands of TLP supporters expected to converge on the federal capital.
In anticipation of the demonstration, law enforcement in Rawalpindi has significantly bolstered security arrangements. City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani issued a stern caution that any attempts to block roads or engage in violence would be met with a firm legal response. “Those who violate the law will be dealt with strictly,” he asserted, emphasizing that attacks on citizens’ property or official agencies would not be permitted.
As a preventative step, the Islamabad administration has begun positioning shipping containers at the Faizabad Interchange, a location of previous prolonged TLP sit-ins. Sources also confirmed that orders have been issued to vacate hotels along Murree Road and in adjacent areas. Officials stated that while all routes connecting the twin cities are presently open, their status will depend on the evolving situation.
The planned rally is reportedly a protest against the Gaza peace deal, which the TLP alleges is supported by Western powers, particularly the United States. The group has called on its followers to march toward the US Embassy after Friday prayers. In response to the detentions of its leadership in Islamabad and Lahore, the party has now announced its intention to hold a massive sit-in, mobilizing activists from Punjab and other provinces.