Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry accused the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan of attempting to incite unrest under the pretext of demonstrating for Gaza, despite the recent announcement of a peace plan and ceasefire aligning with Palestinian demands.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House on Thursday, Chaudhry claimed that TLP’s planned march from Faizabad to the US Embassy, dubbed the “Aqsa Million March”, was less about solidarity and more about creating chaos.
According to Express News, the Rawalpindi administration and police have devised a comprehensive security plan and launched a crackdown to detain key TLP activists. Officials confirmed that at least 117 workers had been taken into custody from various parts of the city.
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“After calls for protests in Islamabad on the Gaza issue, action was taken across all provinces,” Chaudhry said. “Those arrested were not found with pamphlets, but with weapons and materials meant for police attacks.”
He said authorities had recovered spiked sticks, chemicals, glass pellets, shell guns, tear gas shells, and protective masks from TLP leaders. “Now that peace has been established in Palestine, they seem upset and want to create disorder under the guise of protests,” he added.
The minister stressed that the federal government allows peaceful demonstrations strictly within the framework of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“For instance, Jamaat-e-Islami held a permitted event near Faisal Mosque today while fully complying with SOPs. Has TLP even sought permission or assured adherence to those SOPs?” he questioned.
Chaudhry criticised the group’s leadership for “inflammatory speeches and provocative behaviour,” questioning why they appeared to oppose peace for Palestinians. “Just as Palestinians desire peace, so does Pakistan,” he remarked.
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He reiterated that those detained in Punjab and Islamabad possessed ammunition, chemicals, tear gas masks, and shell guns, items “clearly intended to aid in violent confrontations.”
“I can confidently say that those arrested in Islamabad are senior TLP officials and workers,” Chaudhry asserted, recalling that during earlier episodes of Indian aggression, the group had similarly attempted to divert public attention through disruptive marches.
Vowing zero tolerance for extremism, he said Pakistan “will not allow any group to destabilise the country under political or religious pretences” and promised legal action against those found guilty.
Praising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s proactive approach to the Palestinian cause, the minister highlighted Pakistan’s humanitarian and diplomatic contributions.
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“Pakistan has sent medicines, food aid, provided medical education to Palestinian children, and established temporary hospitals for the injured. No other country has done as much,” he said.
He added that Pakistan was among eight Muslim nations that engaged with US President Donald Trump to discuss a nearly 20-point peace agenda for Palestine. “Pakistan openly participated in these discussions and the first phase of the plan has already been accepted,” Chaudhry noted.
“The people of Palestine want peace and a homeland—not protests or empty slogans,” he said, calling the Gaza ceasefire a “victory for the Muslim Ummah”.
Chaudhry condemned TLP’s planned demonstrations as “a political stunt disguised as solidarity.” “Funds are being raised not for food or medicines, but to buy spiked sticks,” he concluded.
