Capital Under Siege as TLP March Brings Widespread Disruption
Islamabad / Lahore, October 2025 — The capital and its adjoining cities are grappling with one of the most severe disruptions in recent memory, as the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) “Labbaik Ya Aqsa” march advances toward Islamabad amid mounting security and public order concerns.
Thousands of TLP supporters, mobilising in solidarity with Palestinians, attempted to march from Lahore to Islamabad, clashing with police on route. Authorities responded aggressively—digging trenches along the Grand Trunk Road near Gujrat, sealing bridges at Shahbazpur and Khanki, and placing shipping containers on major highways, in a bid to thwart the procession.
By the third day, Islamabad and Rawalpindi remained under near-lockdown. Entry and exit points into the capital were sealed, and the Red Zone was predominantly inaccessible. Containers and barricades blocked major arteries such as Faizabad interchange, Srinagar Highway, Murree Road and other vital junctions.
Residents and commuters have faced immense hardship. Essential goods — vegetables, dairy products and fruit consignments — failed to reach markets, leaving stores depleted and prices soaring. Many small-scale laborers, reliant on daily wages, found themselves jobless for the duration on Public transport services, including the metro, were suspended; ride-hailing apps operated in a limited capacity only. Residents described “being confined in their own homes” and “air thick with tear gas fumes.”
Internet and mobile data services (3G/4G) were suspended in Islamabad and Rawalpindi in a sweeping attempt to curtail mobilisation and coordination among protesters. Meanwhile, more limited restoration was reported in parts of the twin cities as authorities sought to ease the flow.
Violence erupted repeatedly along the route. In Lahore’s outskirts, protesters allegedly attacked police with bricks, rods and sharp weapons, while law enforcement replied with tear gas and rubber bullets. Over a hundred police personnel were reported injured. TLP claimed multiple supporters died in police action—figures that officials have neither confirmed nor denied.
The traders’ community has raised alarms over mounting commercial losses. Goods stored in container trucks, especially perishables, risk spoilage. Demand for reopening roads and restoring internet has grown urgent. In response, the federal government has asked TLP to halt its march and enter negotiations. JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman has intervened, urging both sides toward dialogue to avoid further civilian suffering.
As the stand-off enters its fourth day, Pakistan stands at crossroads: either manage a fragile peace, or risk a deepening spiral of unrest, damage, and public alienation.
