Rangers draw ‘red line’ near Wazirabad as outlawed TLP’s march continues

The proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on Saturday resumed its march from Wazirabad as thousands of protesters, travelling in cars, buses and on foot, continue their journey towards Islamabad on the ninth day.

The activists and workers of the group, which is protesting over the detention of its leader Saad Rizvi and demanding the expulsion of the French ambassador, are heading towards Grand Trunk Road (GTD) near Chenab River on the edge of Gujrat, Bol News has learnt.

The TLP protesters started their journey from the Wazirabad roundabout earlier today, where they had spent the night under the sky. For the first time since they had left Lahore last Friday for Islamabad, the TLP protesters will face the Punjab Rangers that will try and tackle them as per Article-147.

Image: Shahid Aslam

The Punjab Rangers are now leading the command in Punjab, while the Punjab Police would assist them as per the latest guidelines issued by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The centre gave them the charge following deadly clashes with law enforcement agencies along the route. They have reportedly been given a go-ahead to open fire at the miscreants if needed.

Rangers have already marked a ‘red line’ near the Wazirabad Toll Plaza for the TLP protesters with a reported warning on a notice that the TLP protesters must not breach the line, else they will have to face consequences.

Around 500 Rangers personnel have been standing guard at the Wazirabad Toll Plaza, a few hundred meters from the bridge of Chenab River to deal with the TLP protesters.

Major areas sealed with containers

A number of areas have been sealed with containers to stop the marchers from creating a law and order situation.

Trenches have been dug on both sides of the river, the safety wall is demolished and containers, filled with sand, are placed on the bridge. On the other hand, the top brass of the Punjab police has also started employing recruits at the training colleges to assist the police force in handling the protesters.

It is also learnt that Inspector-General Police (IGP) Punjab Rao Sardar Ali Khan has called up around 1,000 men from a training college.

Govt says options for talks open 

On Friday, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid had confirmed that the option to hold negotiations with the outlawed TLP was still on the table, however, no one would be allowed to challenge the writ of the state.

“The writ of the state would be established in any case, but we did not close negotiations door with the TLP yet,” he had said.

Rashid added that the government was standing by its position and the ball was now in the TLP’s court.

Later, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, while warning the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), had said that Pakistan was not a “monarchy” and the law would prevail in the country.

“We are not in a monarchy. It’s a government by the law, and the law has to prevail,” he had said in a news conference.

“The TLP’s demand of releasing their chief Saad Rizvi could not be dealt with as the matter was in the courts.”