RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Rangers, Elite Force, Punjab constabulary and district police cleared Liaquat Bagh of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) activists by using tear gas shells and rubber bullets.

The TLP activists were protesting against the arrest of their leader Saad Rizvi in Lahore on Monday.

According to sources, 135 law enforcement officials, including six Rangers were injured in the violent clash in Rawalpindi division.

A total of 128 police officials and eight passersby were injured during clashes between the law enforcement personnel in the last two days. Of the 128 police officials, 98 were injured in Rawalpindi, while 30 in Attock.

Among the 98 police officials, injured on Wednesday were Tariq Mehboob, SP CIA, DSP City, SHO Waris Khan Yasir Mahmood Abbasi, SHO Pirwadhai Owais Akram and SHO Jhelum Chaudhry Latif.

Besides the police, six personnel of Pakistan Rangers, including Captain Furrukh were also injured during the two days’ clashes.

Besides the law-enforcement personnel, Mohammad Zohaib, a TLP worker was killed in Chakwal, while eight civilians were also injured in Rawalpindi.

The TLP worker who was injured during the clash with police was removed to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Talagang where he succumbed to his injuries.

Though a large number of TLP activists were rounded up, some managed to disappear in the streets around Liaquat Bagh.

During crackdown, the police arrested 152 people from Rawalpindi Division. Of the 152, 46 people were arrested from Rawalpindi, 28 from Attock, 30 from Jhelum and 48 from Chakwal.

The sources said 46 arrested from Rawalpindi were shifted to Adiala jail under 3MPO.

After the operation, Liaquat Bagh, Committee Chowk and other parts of the city were cleared and traffic was restored. However, the waste management company’s staff cleared stones and bricks from Liaquat Bagh and its link roads before the business activities started on Wednesday.

Islamabad

Life in capital returned to normalcy as the local police succeeded in removing TLP activists from Barakahu, Tarnol and Rawat.

The TLP leaders and activists blocked roads at theses three spots, which kept the commercial and business activities suspended.

Besides, interprovincial traffic, including goods and edibles also remained suspended.

Officers of the police told Dawn on condition of anonymity that the capital police removed the protesters after massive resistance.

The police resorted to teargas shelling, firing rubber bullets and baton charging. Protesters also retaliated with stones, slingshots and baton.

So far two cases were registered against the TLP activists, one each at Shahzad Town and Sihala, they said.

A case was registered with Shahzad Town police under 7ATA along with PPCs324, 353, 186, 342, 337-H, 506ii, 440, 427,188,148, and 149.

The other case was registered at Sihala under PPCs 188, 341, 153, 353, 186, 147,145, 149, 506ii and 436.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2021