3 die as TLP members torture DSP, take policemen hostage
Interior minister says no talks are underway with the proscribed TLP, adding that there is no disturbance throughout the country except a small area of Lahore
At least three protesters belonging to the proscribed Tehrik-e-labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were killed in clashes with police ater a large number of its activists atacked a police station in Lahore and made police officers hostage on Sunday.
A police spokesman said TLP workers brutally tortured a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and took him, as well as four other officers, hostage.
Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that six cops were also injured. She said the DSP was kidnapped by the TLP and taken to its markaz (headquarters).
She said the armed men who also had petrol bombs and acid botles atacked the Nawankot police station of Lahore and made the police officers hostage.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said no talks were underway with the TLP. He said there was no disturbance from the TLP throughout Pakistan except a small area of Lahore.
He said that the TLP would be dissolved as provided in the Pakistan Constitution in a couple of days.
Police said the violence occurred ater miscreants atacked the police station and abducted the DSP, adding that it acted only in self-defence.
In a statement, the Lahore police said that miscreants atacked Nawankot Police Station where Rangers and police officers were trapped inside and the DSP was kidnapped and taken to the markaz. “At least one oil tanker with 50,000 litres of petrol has been taken by the miscreants to the markaz.”
The statement said the miscreants were armed and atacked Rangers/police with petrol bombs. “Police and Rangers pushed them back and took back the possession of the police station,” it said, adding that police did not plan or conduct any operation against the mosque or the madressah.
“The action, if any, was in self-defence and to protect public property.”
Rana Arif, spokesperson for Lahore police chief, said 11 police officials were injured ater “brutal torture” by TLP workers and were under treatment at different hospitals.
A TLP spokesperson said the clash started when police launched an operation to clear the area around Yateem Khana Chowk, where workers have been staging a protest since earlier this week.
In a video message, TLP spokesperson Shafiq Ameeni said that they will bury those killed when the French ambassador exits the country and our agreement with the government is implemented.
Videos on social media showed people carrying away the injured and tending to them. However, some users pointed out that the videos were old and were shared without context.
TLP workers wielding sticks and stones also climbed atop the Orange Line Metro Train in Lahore, while speeches were being made through the area mosque to call people for support, according to the city police spokesperson.
He said the protesters were pelting stones at police and Rangers personnel.
The TLP also shared a video of a senior official of Punjab police, who was allegedly abducted by its workers on Sunday.
The injured police official, assumedly under duress, said that an operation was being carried out to clear the area outside a police station when he was “captured” by the “enraged” crowd.
He said that three people were killed and several others sustained bullet wounds, appealing for a way forward through dialogue.
Meanwhile, the identity card of the TLP chief Saad Rizvi has been blocked and a notification has been issued in this regard.
A notification issued by the Punjab Home Department on Sunday stated that the leader’s name has been placed under the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-terrorism Act, 1997.
According to the act, any individual linked to a proscribed organisation can be restricted to limitations on travel, speech, and business.
According to the notification, Rizvi will submit his original passport to the in charge of the concerned police station. He will also obtain prior permission from the concerned police station to go elsewhere from his permanent residence.
According to details, an important meeting of the Home Department was held under the chairmanship of Raja Basharat, the provincial law minister.