ISLAMABAD: Public life largely returned to normal in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad and the nearby Rawalpindi garrison city on Monday, the local administration said, following a police crackdown on pro-Palestine marchers camped in the eastern Punjab province.
The march was organized by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) religio-political party and aimed to stage a protest outside the US embassy in Islamabad to express solidarity with Palestine. It sparked clashes in several cities as authorities attempted to keep the marchers from heading to the capital.
The situation triggered road blockades and prompted authorities to suspend mobile Internet in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other cities on Friday, paralyzing public life for days. On Monday, police dispersed the marchers who had been camped in Punjab’s Muridke city on their way to Islamabad from Lahore.
A clash between authorities and protesters killed at least five people, including a police officer and injured dozens of others, police and witnesses said on Monday. Punjab Police Chief Usman Anwar said the demonstrators opened fire on authorities, killing the officer and wounding others. Police said three protesters and one passerby also died in the clashes before the demonstrators were dispersed.
