Lahore: A massive crackdown has been launched across Punjab following the dispersal of a religious party’s protest march in Muridke earlier this week. The operation has led to the arrest of more than 2,700 workers, while the group’s central leadership remains unaccounted for.
According to police documents seen by Daar News, at least 2,716 individuals have been taken into custody for their alleged involvement in violent demonstrations and acts of vandalism during the protest. Of these, around 250 detainees have been produced before courts, and police have obtained their physical remand for further investigation.
Data shows that Lahore recorded the highest number of arrests (251), followed by Mandi Bahauddin (190), Sheikhupura (178), Rawalpindi (155), Faisalabad (143), Gujranwala (135), Sialkot (128) and Attock (121). Police said that 76 FIRs have so far been registered across Punjab, including 39 in Lahore and eight in Sheikhupura.
The violent clashes that broke out during the protest left one police inspector martyred and around 250 police officers and personnel injured, according to official records. Lahore saw the worst of the violence, where 142 officers’ sustained injuries, while another 48 were wounded in Sheikhupura. The Punjab Police stated that operations to ensure the writ of law would continue and that no one would be allowed to disturb public order.
Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has also initiated legal proceedings against the group. Without naming the party, the FIA said in a statement that it had launched money laundering investigations and begun verifying the assets and bank accounts of several key office-bearers and activists. The agency added that these measures were being taken on the basis of credible financial evidence.
The crackdown comes days after the party began its long march from Lahore to Islamabad, which was forcefully dispersed in Muridke on Monday morning by law enforcement agencies. Since then, multiple cases have been registered, and raids are continuing in major cities to apprehend senior leaders and organizers. Authorities have said that while law and order has largely been restored, security forces remain on alert to prevent any further unrest.