Islamabad, October 10, 2025: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Friday accused the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) of spreading chaos under the guise of protest, warning that Pakistan could no longer afford a return to “mob politics” and coercive street tactics.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Chaudhry said the state would not be blackmailed by any group, reiterating that while peaceful protest is a constitutional right, violence and disorder will not be tolerated.
“The government will not allow anyone to hold the country hostage through force or intimidation,” he said. “Peaceful demonstration is a right — but spreading unrest is not.”
The minister said the government could have easily contained the roughly 2,000 TLP supporters who gathered in Lahore but deliberately opted for restraint to avoid confrontation.
He recalled that TLP’s past protests had turned violent, leading to attacks on police, damage to public property, and the loss of civilian and security personnel lives.
“The TLP has a record of violence. We chose not to respond in kind because our aim was to protect citizens, not escalate tension,” Chaudhry added.
Chaudhry questioned the timing and purpose of the demonstrations, which the TLP claimed were held in solidarity with Palestinians.
“People across the world supporting Palestine are celebrating the recent peace deal,” he said. “If the Palestinians themselves are satisfied, why is this protest being staged in their name? The answer is simple: the motive is something else.”
The minister accused TLP of using its mosque in Lahore’s Samanabad area as a political hub and of attacking law enforcement officers from behind its walls.
“Protesters hiding behind the mosque’s sanctity assaulted police with sticks, nail-studded clubs, chemical agents, glass pellets, and sling-like weapons,” he alleged, adding that CCTV and Safe City cameras were vandalised and footage confirmed incidents of firing and aerial gunfire.
Chaudhry said more than a dozen police and Rangers personnel were injured during clashes. “The group could have been stopped by force, but we deliberately relied on barriers and non-coercive measures,” he said.
He confirmed that several arrests had been made, with video evidence and confessions collected showing the use of weapons and masks during the violence.
“Those who incited and led these attacks will be held accountable and face trial,” he warned.
Defending the government’s handling of the situation, Chaudhry said the priority was to safeguard citizens, maintain Pakistan’s image, and prevent property damage.
“There is no room in Pakistan for politics of mobs or for exploiting religion and extremism for personal or political gains,” he said.
