Lahore:
Police in Pakistan mentioned a hardline Islamist group had taken six safety personnel hostage at its headquarters in Lahore on Sunday just after a week of violent clashes following the arrest of the group’s leader.
The Tehrik-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) group had offered the government an April 20 deadline to expel the French ambassador more than the publication of cartoons in France depicting the Prophet Mohammad. The authorities responded by arresting its leader, prompting supporters to hold protests and sit-ins across Pakistan. At least 4 men and women have been killed, hundreds injured, and thousands arrested. Pakistan banned the group just after the violence.
A senior police officer and two paramilitary have been amongst the six becoming held by supporters of (TLP), Lahore police spokesman Arif Rana told Reuters.
“The TLP activists have two fuel tankers containing thousands of liters of petrol. They are throwing petrol bombs and stones at security officials, and also shooting bullets as the result of which 11 officials are injured,” Rana mentioned, adding the operation was ongoing.
TLP spokesman Shafiq Amini told Reuters 4 supporters had been killed on Sunday by police and numerous other individuals have been wounded.
Pakistani news channels have been barred from offering coverage of the group because it was banned last week, and on Sunday mobile and net services have been down in the region exactly where clashes have been taking location.
Roads top to the headquarters of the group, in Lahore’s Chowk Yateemkahan, have been blocked.
Still, supporters of TLP have been sharing videos on social media of what they mentioned have been clashes on Sunday with police, and hashtags supporting the group have been trending in Pakistan on Sunday.
The videos, which Reuters could not independently confirm, showed thousands of protesters clashing with police in riot-gear, as clouds of tear gas hung in the air and the crackle of gunfire could be heard. Other videos showed injured protesters becoming carried away.
On Saturday Prime Minister Imran Khan mentioned the group had been banned for the reason that it “challenged the writ of the state and used street violence & attacking the public & law enforcers.”
Last week France advised its citizens to temporarily leave Pakistan for their security..
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