ISLAMABAD: On Saturday, a Pakistani religious party, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), announced plans to stage a sit-in at a major traffic junction linking Rawalpindi and Islamabad. This demonstration is intended to show solidarity with the people of Palestine and pressure the government to address their demands concerning the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
TLP, known for its strict stance on blasphemy laws, has a history of staging sit-ins at the Faizabad Interchange. The large number of protesters in the area significantly disrupts traffic, causing drivers to take longer, alternative routes between the two cities.
Led by their young leader Saad Rizvi, TLP workers began their protest with a rally from Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi to Faizabad before setting up a protest camp at the interchange. “We will stay here until our demands are met,” Rizvi stated in a TLP announcement.
“Our first demand is to send food and medical aid to the oppressed Palestinians,” Rizvi declared. “Our second demand is for the Pakistani government to officially announce a boycott of Israeli products. Our third demand is to declare Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a terrorist.”
The war in Israel, which began last October, has claimed the lives of about 39,000 people, mostly women and children. While Pakistan’s civil society and political factions have consistently held pro-Palestinian rallies, it remains unclear why TLP chose to initiate their sit-in nearly nine months into the conflict.
