Team News Riveting
The mismanagement on the part of the Pakistan Government to handle the situation resulted in the death of four policemen as thousands of workers of the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) clashed with law-enforcement personnel near Sadhoke in Punjab’s Gujranwala district on Wednesday.
The clashes between the Islamist radical group and police started at Sadhoke, some 50 km from Lahore, when thousands of the TLP protesters who had been camping between Muridke and Gujranwala along the GT Road for the last three days started the march towards Islamabad after getting a go-ahead from their leadership. The development was the result of confusion created by Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid.
The TLP’s central committee accused Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid of lying that matters between it and the government had been settled. He even claimed that the protesters would now depart from Muridke.
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar tweeted that the four police personnel were kicked due to firing by TLP workers, adding that 253 others had been injured in the violence. He further said that strict legal action will be taken against those involved in the violence.
The TLP claimed that several of their activists had also been killed and wounded. The police claimed that the TLP workers were heavily armed and fired from AK-47 rifles and pistols. The TLP leaders said the authorities sprayed bullets from helicopters.
The Pakistan Government had announced to notify TLP as a militant group soon after the incident and deploy Rangers for next two months to control the situation.
