Several areas in Lahore have been blocked on account of nationwide protests led by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, following the arrest of their chief, Saad Rizvi.
The following roads and locations are either chocked or facing traffic congestion; LDA- Avenue Chowk, Gajju Matta, Chungi Amar Sidhu, Shahpur Kanjra Road, Bhatta Chowk, Muhafiz Town, EME Society, Daroghwala- Niazi Shaheed Road, Scheme Mor and Kot Abdul Malik.
Lahore is also plagued with fears of a shortage of oxygen tanks for COVID-19 patients, resulting from traffic congestion and road blocks. Punjab’s health department revealed that Gujranwala, Gujrat and Sialkot had limited oxygen left, only a day’s supply. If the supply continues to be blocked, the situation could worsen, said the health department.
Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid urged protesters to give way to trucks with oxygen cylinders to save COVID-19 patients.
Several Twitter users took to the platform to post traffic and protest updates.
“TLP supporters burn tyres and block a road in Lahore,” says a Twitter user.
Several offices and organisations were forced to close early on account of the intensity of the protests, with several workers stranded in offices yesterday, April 12.
Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Rizvi, the son of the now-deceased cleric Khadim Rizvi, had been detained by security forces in Lahore on Monday, the Tekreek’s leadership confirmed.
The move came as a result of taking Rizvi into a pre-emptive custody ahead of the 20 April deadline for the group’s demands to be put forth to the parliament. According to an agreement with the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, the PTI government had to put their demands to the parliament which included policies like “expelling the French ambassador, severing ties with France and boycotting French products”, within three months through parliament.
