Pakistan Shuts Down Mobile, Internet Services Ahead of TLP’s ‘Million March’ in Islamabad

The Pakistani government on Friday suspended mobile and internet services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and sealed all entry and exit routes to the capital ahead of a planned “Labbaik Ya Aqsa Million March” by the hardline Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party.

The move follows violent clashes between police and TLP supporters in Lahore, which left dozens injured after authorities raided the group’s headquarters to arrest its chief, Saad Hussain Rizvi, ahead of the protest against Israel outside the US Embassy in Islamabad.

The interior ministry instructed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to suspend connectivity in the twin cities from midnight Friday, citing security concerns. The order, approved by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, did not specify when services would be restored.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government imposed Section 144 across the province, banning all public gatherings, rallies, and demonstrations for 10 days. The order also prohibits the display of weapons and the use of loudspeakers, except for religious or official purposes.

Authorities have barricaded all major entry points into Islamabad, sealing off the Red Zone, which houses key government buildings and foreign embassies. Only authorized personnel are being allowed entry through Margalla Road, officials said.

Police and paramilitary forces have been placed on high alert across Punjab to prevent large-scale unrest.

Lahore clashes

According to police, at least five officers and over a dozen TLP supporters were injured in overnight clashes in Lahore. The TLP claimed one of its workers was killed and 20 others wounded when police stormed its headquarters at Yateem Khana Chowk.

Police said they were attempting to execute an arrest warrant for Rizvi when they came under attack by TLP workers armed with stones and iron rods. “So far, Rizvi has eluded arrest,” a police officer told PTI, adding that the Rangers may be deployed to prevent further violence.

TLP response

The TLP condemned the crackdown, accusing Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s government of using “disgraceful tactics” to suppress peaceful protest. “The oppression against unarmed workers and officials of TLP must stop immediately,” a party spokesperson said.

He alleged that dozens of TLP workers had been detained across Punjab and denounced the arrests as an attack on pro-Palestine activism. “Showing solidarity with Palestine has become a crime in Pakistan,” he said. “The voice of truth cannot be silenced through force. Every act of oppression will fail.”

The TLP, a far-right Islamist party known for its history of confrontations with authorities, called for the ‘Labbaik Ya Aqsa Million March’ to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign.