On Tuesday, several cities across Pakistan, including Islamabad and Karachi, saw widespread protests by members of the far-right Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) group, as they demanded the release of their leader, Saad Rizvi. Rizvi was pre-emptively detained by the Pakistani authorities on Monday to “maintain law and order” after he presented the Pakistan government with an ultimatum to expel the French ambassador to the country.
The TLP’s call to expel the French diplomat comes in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s alleged anti-Islam stand. Last year, Muslims in several Islamic states demanded a boycott of French products after Macron critiqued Islam and defended the public display of cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad. Doubled with Paris’ introduction of new laws to clamp down on Islamic organisations and mosques, Muslims from across the globe slammed the French President’s comments and moves as discriminatory.
In October 2020, the TLP gained popularity for its vociferous opposition to blasphemy and its success in endorsing the boycott of French products. During this period, the TLP organised a number of demonstrations, which not only brought several cities to a standstill but also endangered authorities’ efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. These protests were led by Saad Rizvi’s father, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who died unexpectedly after the demonstrations. TLP Deputy Chief Syed Zaheerul Hassan Shah said on Monday that the government of Pakistan had violated its agreement with the TLP to expel the French ambassador, and condemned the government’s actions by saying that it “has resorted to thuggery and is restoring its past practices.”
In response to Tuesday’s protests, the Pakistani police used tear gas to disperse the crowds and arrested hundreds of demonstrators, with paramilitary forces asked to step in and assist local authorities. As demonstrations took a violent turn, at least one police officer and one protester were reported to have died in Lahore. However, TLP spokesperson Ali Raza told EFE Agency that the protests would continue until Rizvi was freed.
Concerningly, the demonstrations have blocked crucial roads and highways across Pakistan, which has further impacted the authorities’ efforts to curtail the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Yasmin Rashid, a health official from the Punjab province, the protests have resulted in disruption of ambulance services and even blocked the expedited delivery of oxygen cylinders. Furthermore, Asad Aslam, the Punjab province’s pandemic response team’s head, said that as a result of the blockages, several hospitals faced severe oxygen shortages. On April 12, Pakistan reported 4,584 new cases of COVID-19, bringing its total tally up to 725,602.
Widespread Protests in Pakistan Following Far-Right TLP Leader Saad Rizvi’s Arrest
Several cities in Pakistan witnessed protests in response to the arrest of Saad Rizvi, the leader of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan group, who was preemptively arrested to “maintain law and order”.
April 14, 2021
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS