Pakistan Islamist Group Marches on Capital After Violent Anti-Israel Clashes

Thousands of supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a hardline Islamist party, began marching towards Islamabad on Saturday following violent anti-Israel protests in Lahore. The unrest erupted during demonstrations against a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which TLP strongly opposes.

The protests, which started Thursday in Lahore, escalated on Friday as demonstrators clashed with police. Officers responded with batons and tear gas after being pelted with stones, according to AFP reporters. At least 50 police officers were injured, authorities said. TLP claimed some of its members were killed, though this has not been independently confirmed.

TLP organizers say the march aims to show solidarity with Palestinians, not to present demands. “We are not negotiating with the government,” said senior TLP member Allama Muhammad Irfan. “We just want to support Gaza.”

In anticipation of the group’s arrival, Islamabad authorities blocked major roads with shipping containers and suspended mobile internet services. The capital is about 370 kilometers (230 miles) from Lahore.

Deputy Interior Minister Tallal Chaudry vowed to prevent the group from entering the city, stating, “There is no room for any radical activity in Islamabad.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, calling it a “historic opportunity for lasting peace,” and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting Palestinian rights through diplomatic means.

TLP, which has no seats in parliament but a history of mobilizing large, disruptive protests, often pressures the government with anti-Western rhetoric and demands, including calls to expel foreign envoys. Pakistan does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel.