MURIDKE / LAHORE: Security forces, including Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) and police contingents from five districts, surrounded the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protest camp in Muridke early Sunday, in what appears to be preparation for a large-scale operation to stop the party’s planned march on Islamabad.
Highlights
- Rangers and police from five districts encircle TLP protest camp in Muridke.
- Two attempts by protesters to break through blockades were foiled.
- TLP chief Saad Rizvi shot and critically injured; condition remains unstable.
- Around 170 TLP activists detained under MPO in Sahiwal division.
- PM Shehbaz and Interior Minister Naqvi hold high-level security review meeting.
Two attempts by TLP supporters to cross security trenches and break through the blockade were foiled by law enforcement. Authorities dug trenches and sealed major routes, while senior officers were placed on high alert to respond immediately to any escalation.
Lahore DIG Operations Faisal Kamran confirmed that reinforcements from across Lahore had been dispatched and had arrived in Muridke to support the operation.
Saad Rizvi Reportedly Shot and Injured
In a major development late Sunday, TLP chief Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi was shot multiple times, leaving him in critical condition.
According to the party spokesperson, Rizvi was struck by three bullets and shifted to a nearby medical facility, where doctors are trying to stabilize him. No official statement has been released regarding the location of the attack or the perpetrators.
The TLP spokesperson described the situation as “highly tense,” claiming over 250 party workers have been killed and more than 1,500 injured in recent clashes across Punjab. These figures have not been officially confirmed.
.Update of #TLPProtest : In the wee hours punjab police has carried out an operation at #Muridky – multiple killed , several injured. #SaadRizvi and his brother are with the authorities.
— Azaz Syed (@AzazSyed) October 13, 2025
Heavy Security Deployment and Emergency Meetings
The security build-up follows a late-night high-level meeting on Saturday, chaired by Punjab Inspector General Dr. Usman Anwar and attended by senior officers, including Lahore CCPO Bilal Siddique Kamyana and DIG Faisal Kamran. The leadership decided to take stricter measures in response to attacks, vandalism, and road blockages linked to TLP activists.
Officials briefed the meeting that TLP supporters attacked police installations in Shahdara, snatched 18 official motorbikes, and commandeered vehicles from government departments at gunpoint. Several police personnel were reported missing, with fears of abduction during clashes.
In response, 850 Lahore police personnel—ten from each police station—along with anti-riot units, were sent to Muridke. Additional contingents came from Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Gujrat districts, creating a wide security ring around the TLP camp.
Mobile Data Services Partially Restored; 170 TLP Members Detained
Mobile data services were partially restored in Rawalpindi and Islamabad after preliminary talks between the government and TLP began in Lahore.
Meanwhile, 170 TLP members—including office-bearers and activists—were detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) across the Sahiwal division, including Pakpattan, Okara, and Sahiwal.
Law enforcement agencies, including Rangers and large contingents of police from five districts, were dispatched to Muridke early on Sunday and reportedly surrounded the #TLP protest camp, in what appeared to be preparations for a large-scale operation. https://t.co/4s8TW19eg9
— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) October 13, 2025
The detainees were shifted to central prisons under 30-day MPO orders issued by deputy commissioners. Law enforcement established multiple checkpoints at key exits, including Ravi Bridge, Chichawatni, Gamber Toll Plaza, Okara-Lahore National Highway, and Depalpur Bypass, to prevent movement towards Islamabad.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz and Interior Minister Naqvi Review National Security
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held a high-level security meeting on Sunday to review the internal security situation, law and order, and counterterrorism strategy.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Naqvi briefed the premier on current measures and security deployments. The prime minister directed authorities to ensure coordinated, effective action to safeguard citizens’ lives and property.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and eradicating terrorism, terming it a top priority.
TLP Urges Supporters to Stay Calm as Situation Hangs in the Balance
Before the shooting incident, Saad Rizvi had urged TLP supporters to remain calm and await further instructions. The party reiterated its solidarity with Palestine and rejected recognition of Israel.
TLP leaders alleged that authorities were using “lethal weapons” and carrying out mass arrests without initiating formal negotiations. Despite ongoing talks, no final decision regarding the planned operation in Muridke had been announced by Sunday night.
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