INTERNATIONAL: Riots Erupt in Lahore: 11 Killed
Roots of the Unrest
Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan activists took to the streets across Pakistan on Thursday, voicing fury over civilian deaths in Gaza and what they see as a flawed U.S.-backed peace initiative under President Trump.
The demonstrations began peacefully, with crowds in cities like Lahore and Rawalpindi chanting slogans for Palestinian solidarity.
Yet beneath the chants lay deep grievances against perceived international inaction.
Friday’s Bloody Turn
Tensions boiled over on Friday as protesters pushed toward the U.S. embassy in Islamabad, defying security barriers.
Clashes erupted when forces deployed tear gas and batons to halt the advance, leading to chaotic skirmishes that left blood on the pavement.
Official tallies report at least two fatalities, though party leaders insist the toll is far higher.
Casualties and Medical Woes
TLP chief Saad Rizvi leveled stark accusations against Punjab Police, claiming they gunned down 11 of his followers in cold blood during the melee.
He detailed how over two dozen others suffered wounds, only to face rejection at local hospitals where doctors, under pressure, turned them away.
These stories of denied care have only stoked the flames of distrust.
Personal Assault on Leadership
Rizvi didn’t hold back on the raid at his Lahore home, describing it as a brazen strike that swept up his mother, wife, and young children into custody.
He painted the police actions as a calculated bid to crush dissent, questioning who pulled the strings behind the gunfire and arrests.
Such moves, he argued, betray a plot to silence voices demanding justice for Gaza.
**Citywide ParalysisV
The fallout rippled far beyond the front lines:
- Major roads in Islamabad, Lahore, and Rawalpindi ground to a halt under protester blockades and security checkpoints.
- Mobile internet blackouts blanketed key urban zones, severing communication for hours.
- A strict curfew locked down the capital and nearby areas, stranding commuters and shuttering businesses.
Authorities justified the measures as essential to avert wider chaos, but critics decry them as overreach stifling free expression.