Lahore paralyzed after operation against TLYRA demonstrators in Islamabad

The workers of Tehrik-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah took to roads of the provincial metropolis on Saturday morning, like other cities of the country, after an operation was launched by the federal capital police and other law enforcement agencies against their leaders and workers for besieging the entry and exit points of Islamabad for the last 20 days.
The workers and supporters of Tehrik-e-Labaik first converged in front of the shrine of Data Ganj Bukhsh where their leaders made fiery speeches asking for resignation of Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid and action against those launched a crackdown against their leadership in Islamabad.
The workers took out rallies from all areas of the city after the news was aired about crackdown at Faizabad in Islamabad. There was a strong protest at Shahdara, Imamia Colony and other exit and entry points. The workers marched up to Faisal Chowk and chanted slogans against the PML-N leadership and the government. They were carrying placards inscribed with demands and some of them were also holding batons. Two young men were seen removing steamers hanged with electricity polls on Shahra-e-Quaid-e-Azam with pictures of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his party leaders.
A group of lawyers also protested at Faisal Chowk against the crackdown. The supporters blocked major thoroughfares of the city including Shahdrah, Imamia Colony, Mall Road, Data Darbar Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Multan Road, Liberty, Gulberg Main Boulevard, Ichra, Mughalpura, Walton Road, Johar Town, Kahna, Timber Market, Raiwind Road, Bhatta Chowk and Chungi Amar Sidhu besides other localities.
At Timber Market, the protestors burnt tyres and shouted slogans against the government and ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz. They set ablaze motorbikes and other articles outside the Shahdrah police station.
Traders of major city markets and commercial areas also closed their shops. Major shopping areas which opened late in the morning did not bother to come to their shops after hearing the news of protests. Both traders and citizens blamed the government for not handling the situation wisely.
All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran President Khalid Pervaiz said the government has badly failed to find out a peaceful solution of the problem and spread unrest in all parts of the country. It is the negligence of the government and state machinery that people are on streets in all four provinces.
He highlighted that protests and rallies have caused great loss to business and trading community in the country which can be easily avoided if the government finds a peaceful solution to the problem. He questioned why the government allowed the protesters to gather in Islamabad. Some shoppers at the famous Panorama Center at the Mall Road were confused and embarrassed about the future of their businesses.
Public transport including Metro Bus and buses being run under the Lahore Transport Company were also suspended by the management soon after the protests, especially on routes where protesters blocked the roads. Captains serving the passengers through different taxi companies such as Uber and Careem also preferred to go back to their homes after hearing the unrest in the city.