Lahore, Oct 13: A senior leader of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Syed Ahmed Shah Bukhari, was killed on Monday in an encounter with Pakistani security forces during ongoing pro-Palestine demonstrations in Muridke, Punjab. The incident occurred amid violent clashes between TLP supporters and law Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel enforcement personnel as protesters attempted to march toward Islamabad in solidarity with Palestinians.
Image Credit To Bloomberg
According to eyewitness accounts and statements from TLP’s central leadership, Bukhari—also referred to in some reports as Ahmad Bukhari—was shot dead when Rangers allegedly opened fire on protesters. TLP has described his death as a case of “martyrdom,” claiming that security forces used live ammunition against unarmed demonstrators. Videos circulating on social media show scenes of chaos, with gunfire, tear gas, and injured protesters being carried away.
The confrontation in Muridke marks one of the most violent episodes in the current wave of pro-Palestine protests that began on October 10, when TLP supporters launched a march from Lahore toward the capital. The party accuses the Pakistani government of failing to take a firm stance against Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
TLP sources claim that multiple protesters were killed and more than 50 injured in the Muridke clashes alone. The group has vowed to continue the march despite the government’s security crackdown and has branded the forces involved as “Israeli-backed agents.”
So far, Punjab Police have not issued an official statement regarding Bukhari’s killing. However, interior ministry sources have justified the use of force, arguing that the march posed a threat to law and order. Authorities have heavily fortified the route to Islamabad with barriers and shipping containers, attempting to prevent protesters from advancing further north.
The TLP’s latest confrontation adds to its long history of tense standoffs with the Pakistani state. Founded in 2015 following the execution of Mumtaz Qadri, the group has staged several violent protests in recent years, including deadly clashes in 2021 that forced government concessions.
Analysts warn that Bukhari’s death could spark further unrest across Punjab and other provinces, as the TLP leadership calls for nationwide sit-ins if their demands for stronger anti-Israel measures are not met.
As of Monday evening, negotiations between the government and TLP representatives were said to be underway, with officials seeking to defuse tensions and prevent another large-scale confrontation.
You Might Also Like:
Taliban Reverses Ban on Women Journalists After Backlash During Muttaqi’s India Visit
A Reflection on Surat-al-Ankabut : Faith, Effort, and the Delusion of Self-Sufficiency