The workers of banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) kidnapped and tortured a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in Lahore on Sunday, said the Punjab Police in a statement on Twitter.
According to the Twitter statement, the workers of the banned religious party TLP attacked the Nawankot Police Station and kidnapped DSP Mohammad Umer Farooq.
UPDATE: Mufti Muneeb announces nationwide strike on Monday (19 April)
Furthermore, the TLP workers also took control of an oil tanker with 50,000 liters of petrol and attacked the policemen and rangers trapped in the police station with petrol bombs.
“Police and rangers pushed them back and took back the possession of the police station.” said the Punjab Police in a statement on Twitter. “Police did not plan nor conduct any operation against the mosque or the madrassa.”
“The action, if any, was in self defense and to protect public property.” stated Punjab police after the clash that took place between TLP workers and police officials in Lahore on Sunday.
— Punjab Police Official (@OfficialDPRPP) April 18, 2021
DSP Muhammad Umer Farooq also issued a video statement regarding the incident in Lahore and appealed to the government to resolve the matter by honoring the agreement that was reached earlier with Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).
پولیس رکاوٹیں ہٹانے اور ایریا کلیرنس کا آپریشن کر رہی تھی. مظاہرین نے ڈی ایس پی سمیت چھ پولیس اہلکاروں کو یرغمال بنا لیا.
— نیک ریــنچ (@NaikRooh) April 18, 2021
جواباً پولیس کو اپنے ساتھیوں کی رہائی کے لئے آپریشن کرنا پڑا. pic.twitter.com/c00AOpakix
TLP Supporters Killed in Clash with Lahore Police
In related news, at least two TLP supporters were killed and several more injured during the clash of TLP workers and Lahore police on Sunday.
TLP Banned
The federal government on Thursday (15 April 2021) approached the apex court seeking the dissolution of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) after the federal cabinet approved the summary to ban TLP over anti-terrorism law.
The decision was taken after countrywide protests that turned violent after the party’s chief Saad Hussain Rizvi was arrested by police in Lahore before the party’s deadline to remove the French ambassador from the country.
Read more: Govt decides to ban TLP under anti-terrorism law.