Anti-Israel Demonstration Clashes In Pakistan Killed 5 People

JAKARTA - Five people were reportedly killed when Pakistani police clashed with members of a hardline Islamic group in anti-Israeli protests on the country's busiest highway.

Pakistan's Tehorik-e-Labaik, an extreme right-wing group protesting its massive and often violent streets calling for action on the streets ahead of US President Donald Trump's announcement last week about a ceasefire deal to end Gaza's war.

The parade from the metropolitan city of Lahore in the eastern part to the capital Islamabad, which is nearly 400 km (248 miles) away, along the historic Grand Trunk Road, began on Friday and caused several clashes with police, which sought to slow its movement.

On Monday, October 13, police launched an operation to disperse hundreds of protesters in the city of Pupike as supporters opened fire on officers and burned more than 40 vehicles in clashes that lasted more than three hours.

Those who died included a police officer, three protesters, and an observer, police said in a statement. Dozens of people from both sides were injured.

Dozens of protesters have also been arrested, police continued. Routes in and out of the capital, which have been blocked by authorities since the march began, were partially reopened on Monday.

Tehrik-e-Labaik said police who opened fire on his supporters killed and injured several people. His leader, Saad Rizvi, was also injured, suffering from three gunshot wounds, the group said.

Rizvi said at a press conference on Sunday that his supporters only wanted to march to Islamabad to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.

"Our parade is against Israeli atrocities," he said.

Hamas released the last 20 surviving Israeli hostages on Monday based on a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the war that began on October 7, 2023 following a Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 people and 251 people held hostage.