Islamabad: Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Rizvi was killed after he was shot dead three times during violent protests in Lahore. However, no official confirmation has been issued by TLP or authorities. The unrest stems from TLP’s ‘Labbaik Ya Aqsa Million March’ protesting US support for Israel and showing solidarity with Palestinians.
The TV reports and social media reported that he was shot three times during ongoing clashes with security forces and is in critical condition. The claims have triggered confusion and further intensified an already volatile situation in Pakistan.
However, there is no official confirmation from TLP leadership, government authorities, or any credible news organization that can verify if Saad Rizvi has been shot or if he is in critical condition. While videos and messages are going viral on social media, the claims remain unverified.
Meanwhile, Lawyers in Lahore attacked security forces after police shot TLP leader Saad Rizvi during a pro-Palestine protest.
Saad Rizvi is the head of TLP, an Islamist political party that rose to fame in 2018 and campaigns against Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. The party has often staged large and violent street protests over religious issues.
The current violence in Lahore started after TLP’s ‘Labbaik Ya Aqsa Million March’, which is a massive march to express solidarity with Palestinians and protest against US support for Israel. The group intends to march to the US Embassy in Islamabad, which authorities have called a security risk.
To prevent the march from reaching the capital, police have set up blockades and imposed restrictions, sparking violent clashes between security personnel and demonstrators. As the protestors tried to remove the barricades, the protests turned violent. One of the viral videos showed how the protesters took away a Pakistani Police vehicle. Protests are so violent that some people are comparing the situation with Gaza.
As per Punjab Police Chief Usman Anwar, one police officer died in the clashes after demonstrators opened fire. The police have arrested 100 people. On the other hand, TLP in a statement said that many of its supporters were killed and injured.
