TLP workers should return peacefully, says Sheikh Rashid
Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Wednesday announced to deploy Rangers in Punjab for 60 days to maintain the law and order situation in the province and to deal with banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the interior minister said that there is a lot of international pressure on the government therefore they will use all means to establish peace.
“We have decided to summon the Rangers for a period of 60 days to maintain law and order situation in the province,” Rasheed said. “Like Karachi, Rangers have been called in Punjab under Section 4 (2) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, read with Article 147 of the Constitution of Pakistan,” he added.
Policeman martyred and several injured
The decision comes after a policeman got killed and dozens got injured in the recent clashes of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) with Punjab Police in Gujranwala on Wednesday, after the banned organization resumed its march towards Islamabad.
The martyred policeman was identified as ASI Akbar who is a resident of Kasur. “Yes, it is true that Assistant Sub Inspector Muhammad Akbar from Kasur has been killed by the protesters,” a policeman at the district police office in Kasur told the press.
These skirmishes started as the TLP protesters resumed their march towards Islamabad after the failure of dialogues between TLP authorities and the government.
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan blamed the government for not negotiating with them in a serious manner while on the other hand government is of the say that all the demands of TLP, including the release of its leader, Saad Rizvi, are acceptable however they must let go of their demand to dismiss the French Ambassador from Pakistan.
“Instead of trying to resolve the issue, the use of violence by the government was further complicating the situation,” said a TLP spokesperson.
TLP officials claimed that the government’s use of force against the protesters has injured more than 50 workers as the police is using water cannons, bullets, and teargas against them.
Call of Additional Police Force to Rawalpindi:
Considering the recent escalated situation between TLP and police, strong security measures have been taken, including deployment of Superintendents of Police (SPs) and additional force in Rawalpindi. According to the circular issued by the police, the following are directed to reach Rawalpindi until October 26 and report to the Rawalpindi RPO.
- DPO Toba Tek Singh Mujeebur Rehman along with two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), four Station House Officers (SHOs) and 10 reserve forces
- DPO Khushab Mohammad Naveed with two DSPs, 10 reserve forces including four SHOs
- Assistant Inspector-General Complaints SP Dr Fahad and two SPs
- Punjab CTD SP and Bahawalpur DPO Faisal Kamran
On the other hand, police personnel have also been deployed at all metro bus stations in Rawalpindi.