Islamabad, October 14, 2025: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Punjab Ameer Dr. Tariq Saleem on Tuesday strongly condemned what he termed police brutality and a “bloody crackdown” on participants of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) solidarity march, calling the incident an act of state terrorism and oppression.
In a statement, Dr. Saleem held the Punjab government responsible for the bloodshed, saying the violent suppression of peaceful demonstrators had caused widespread fear and anxiety across the country.
He demanded the immediate release of TLP chief Saad Rizvi, along with other detained leaders and workers, and called for a transparent and impartial investigation into what he described as the “Muridke tragedy.”
Dr. Saleem criticised the government for denying citizens their constitutional right to peaceful protest, saying that dissent should be addressed through dialogue and negotiation, not force. “The rulers have chosen the path of repression, staining their hands with the blood of innocent people,” he said.
He further condemned the reported siege and demolition of mosques, houses, and religious seminaries, terming such actions “deeply unjust and unacceptable in a democratic society.”
Dr. Saleem urged all democratic forces to raise their voices against what he called the government’s authoritarian tactics, warning that silencing peaceful protest was equivalent to dictatorship.
