Pakistani policemen say feel ‘betrayed’ by government concessions to religious party after violent protests

Policemen arrive at the site of a protest by the supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party along a blocked street during a demonstration in Lahore, Pakistan, on April 18, 2021. (AFP)
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Updated 29 April 2021
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Pakistani policemen say feel ‘betrayed’ by government concessions to religious party after violent protests

  • Government said would ban TLP but then met its demands to release arrested rioters, call parliamentary debate on French envoy’s expulsion
  • Information minister says debating French ambassador’s expulsion in line with wishes of Pakistani people, TLP demands “judicial probe” into clashes

KARACHI/LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Several members of the Pakistani police force interviewed by Arab News across the country last week have said there was a growing sense of “betrayal” among their colleagues after the government negotiated with, and met the demands of, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan party despite policemen being “killed, tortured and humiliated” by the group’s supporters during protests this month.
Demonstrations by the religious political party erupted on April 12 and quickly turned violent after TLP chief Saad Rizvi was arrested in Lahore for threatening the government with rallies if it did not expel the French envoy to Islamabad over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) published in France last year. Six policemen were killed and over 800 injured, according to official figures, in protests that lasted a week. Photographs of policemen, with their heads, legs and arms heavily bandaged, were posted on social media by their captors through the week.
The government first said it would ban TLP over the violence. But as protests continued and became deadlier, ministers negotiated with the party and eventually acquiesced to its demand to halt criminal cases against, and release, hundreds of TLP supporters arrested during the riots. The government also called a parliamentary vote on expelling the French ambassador, fulfilling the religious group’s top demand. 
TLP has built a wide base of support in recent years, rallying around cases of blasphemy, which are punishable by death in Pakistan.
A policeman who was taken hostage and ultimately released by the TLP in the eastern city of Lahore, the epicenter of the violence, said it was “highly demoralizing” that the government had released rioters who had assaulted police.
“There is no problem in negotiations with protesters,” he told Arab News in an interview last week, declining to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media on the record. “But how can you set those free who have killed, tortured and humiliated law enforcers?”




Supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party throw stones over the police armoured vehicle during a protest against the arrest of their leader in Barakahu neighbourhood of Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 13, 2021. ( AFP)

A senior police officer in Punjab echoed the sentiment.
“The police don’t see any point in performing their duties after what has been done to us,” the officer said on condition of anonymity, saying it would now be difficult to keep his force “motivated.” “We don’t have answers to the questions our staff asks us, and we don’t know how to motivate them after this disgrace.”
Saleem Vahidy, a former deputy inspector general of Sindh Police, said the confidence of the force had “hit rock bottom”:
“When you set free criminals … who are arrested for serious breaches of the law, you are setting a dangerous precedent and sending the wrong message.”
DIG Counterterrorism Sindh, Omar Shahid Hamid, admitted that tackling riots was “difficult for the police” and a “negative impact” on officer morale was inevitable after the federal government decided to negotiate with their attackers.
“When police are targeted by miscreants in any such incident, obviously there is bound to be a negative impact on the morale of the forces,” he told Arab News.
Arif Rana, a spokesperson for police in Lahore, said more than 190 policemen had been injured and two killed in clashes with rioters at 31 locations across the city, but declined to comment on the impact the riots and subsequent events had had on the morale of the police force in the city.
Sindh Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Mehar and the Capital City Police Officer for Lahore, Ghulam Mehmood Dogar, did not respond to calls seeking comment for this article.
But Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the government’s decision to discuss the expulsion of the French ambassador in parliament was not “capitulation.”
“Like all civilized and democratic societies, the government has agreed to discuss the matter in parliament and resolve it in line with the wishes of the Pakistani people,” Hussain told Arab News. “This shows the government’s firmness and resolve, not weakness.”
Though the interior ministry has announced that hundreds of TLP supporters involved in the violence had been released, Hussain said: “No one involved in attacks on police shall be released nor cases shall be withdrawn. State will never forget or forgive terrorists who attacked law enforcement agencies.”
Pir Ejaz Ashrafi, a central leader of the TLP, called for a “judicial commission” to be set up to probe clashes between police and protesters.
“This was totally unfortunate that police and protesters stood face to face at different places,” he told Arab News.




Policemen help an injured colleague during a clash with supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party while they protest against the arrest of their leader in Lahore, Pakistan, on April 13, 2021. (AFP)

TLP first came to prominence as an organized force when it protested for the release of Mumtaz Qadri, a bodyguard who gunned down Salman Taseer, then governor of Punjab province, for seeking justice for a destitute Christian woman who had been jailed on blasphemy charges. The woman, Asia Bibi, was acquitted and released in 2019 after eight years on death row and has since fled Pakistan.
Qadri was eventually sentenced for killing Taseer and hanged in 2016, but since then, TLP has morphed into a political party that contested the 2018 general elections, campaigning to defend the blasphemy law. The party also has a history of staging protests and sit-ins to pressure the government to accept its demands.
In November 2017, TLP followers staged a 21-day protest and sit-in after a reference to the sanctity of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was removed from the text of a government form.
Zoha Waseem, a research scholar at the Institute for Global City Policing, said the latest protests and ensuing violence had highlighted the limitation of viewing riots simply as a “law-and-order problem.”
“This is a political challenge, it was a product of political developments in Pakistan, and a series of sociopolitical events in the country over the past several decades,” Waseem told Arab News.
She added: “This is not a failure of the police; it is the failure of inadequate and short-sighted state policies that imagine that such challenges can be dealt with force by law enforcement agencies … You simply cannot just ‘police’ [your way] out of this.”
“So, this will be a long-term challenge for the police,” Waseem said, “and I fear that if the state does not rethink its policies about radical groups that incite violence, we may see the police further pushed into a corner.”
For now, police officers in Punjab say they feel “betrayed” by the government.
“We were told that they [the government] were with us. We took a huge beating only on the promise that this time, they [TLP] are going to be tried in the courts under the anti-terror law,” a second Punjab police official based in Rawalpindi, who declined to be named, told Arab News.
“But in the end, it’s all the same,” the senior officer added. “In the end, if this is how things transpire... then what’s the point?”


Pakistani pilgrims praise Saudi Arabia’s ‘impressive’ Hajj 2025 arrangements

Updated 07 June 2025
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Pakistani pilgrims praise Saudi Arabia’s ‘impressive’ Hajj 2025 arrangements

  • More than 115,000 Pakistani pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj pilgrimage this year
  • Pilgrims praise Riyadh for heat mitigation efforts, arranging separate facilities for women

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani pilgrims on Saturday heaped praise on the government of Saudi Arabia for undertaking “impressive” arrangements for pilgrims during this year’s Hajj.

The comments by Pakistani Hajj pilgrims were shared by the country’s Ministry of Religious Affairs on Saturday as Muslims marked the beginning of Eid Al-Adha in Pakistan and other parts of the world.

More than 115,000 Pakistani pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia this year under both the government scheme and private tour operators to perform Hajj.

“I had a very good Hajj experience,” Nadia Sarfaraz, a Pakistani pilgrim from Karachi, said in a video message. “Everything went smoothly and we have no complaints against anyone. The Saudi government is providing support here and our own [Pakistan’s] government is helping a lot too,” she added.

Rabia Babar, a Pakistani pilgrim from Islamabad, praised the Saudi government for facilitating pilgrims, especially women, throughout the Hajj.

“There are separate lifts for women. In Muzdalifah, where we spent the night, the area was fully carpeted,” she said.

This year’s Hajj saw authorities implementing a range of heat mitigation efforts alongside a wide-ranging crackdown on illicit pilgrims — resulting in noticeably thinner crowds and a heavy security presence at holy sites in Makkah and surrounding areas.

“There were [water] coolers and drinking water available everywhere,” Babar said. “They had large refrigerators, and they were providing us water bottles and even shower facilities.”

Faraz Latif, a Pakistani pilgrim who had arrived in the Kingdom from the southwestern city of Quetta, praised both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for undertaking impressive arrangements for Hajj pilgrims.

He said maintaining cleanliness was pilgrims’ responsibility, urging them to learn patience and adopt it in their lives even after the Hajj was over.

 “It will help you not just during Hajj but throughout your life,” Latif said.

The first Pakistani flight carrying Hajj pilgrims back to the country is scheduled to arrive in Karachi on June 11.


As goats get pricier, Pakistan’s capital turns to falooda dessert to keep Eid Al-Adha spirit alive

Updated 07 June 2025
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As goats get pricier, Pakistan’s capital turns to falooda dessert to keep Eid Al-Adha spirit alive

  • Falooda is made with vermicelli in cold milk, softened basil seeds and generous scoops of vanilla or kulfi ice cream
  • Final touch is a fragrant pour of rose syrup, turning concoction into a pink-hued celebration of summer and Eid

ISLAMABAD: With sacrificial goats commanding million-rupee price tags this Eid Al-Adha, many in Pakistan’s capital are seeking solace not in the livestock markets, but in a humbler tradition: a chilled bowl of falooda — a silky, rose-scented dessert layered with ice cream, nostalgia, and just enough sweetness to lift a heat- and inflation-weary soul.

A dessert with Persian roots, falooda made its way to South Asia during the Mughal era, evolving from a frozen, rose-infused noodle pudding in Iran to the vibrant, multi-textured treat beloved across Pakistan today.

At its best, falooda is an edible symphony, a tangle of thin vermicelli swimming in cold milk, softened basil seeds (tukhmalanga) floating like miniature pearls, and a generous scoop of vanilla or kulfi ice cream crowning the glass. The final touch is a fragrant pour of rose syrup, turning the whole concoction into a pink-hued celebration of summer — and now Eid.

Nowhere is this more evident than at Bata Kulfi Falooda, a small, family-run dessert shop in Islamabad’s bustling I-8 Markaz marketplace.

There, amid the clatter of spoons and the hum of Eid shoppers, customers line up for what’s become a seasonal staple, the shop’s signature Matka Falooda, served in traditional clay bowls that keep the dessert ice-cold, even under the blazing June sun.

“We first opened in Peshawar [northwestern city] in 1962,” said Shah Faisal, the shop’s manager, as he rushed between customers to take orders. “In 2015, we brought the same taste to Islamabad. Nothing has changed. The ingredients, the method, even the feel of it, it all comes from Peshawar.”

During Eid week, Bata Kulfi Falooda’s signature Matka Falooda becomes more than a dessert. It’s a celebration in a bowl.

“It’s a memory in every bite,” said Muhammad Kamil, a 27-year-old student who had just returned from a livestock market, saying he was stunned by the jaw-dropping prices.

“Right at the entrance, we saw a goat priced at Rs1.5 million [$5,350]. A little further in, there was a sheep for Rs2 million [$7,140],” Kamil said as he waited for his bowl of falooda.

“After seeing a goat worth Rs1.5 million, only ice cream could cool us down, otherwise it would’ve been hard to keep the spirit of sacrifice alive.”

Determined to celebrate in his own way, Kamil turned to falooda, at a far more palatable Rs450 ($1.60) per bowl.

What drew him in, he said, was the comforting presentation: the cold earthen bowl, the soft noodles slicked with syrup, and the melting scoop of ice cream sinking slowly into the milky depths. He’s even considering gifting bowls of it to friends this Eid.

Indeed, with families across Islamabad and beyond rethinking how to celebrate Eid this year, it may not be the size of the goat that sets the mood but rather the shared sweetness of something simple, familiar, and deeply rooted in tradition.

So, while this Eid may see fewer families walking home from markets with goats in tow, many are still finding ways to savor the spirit of the season with a humble bowl of falooda, which is doing more than just cooling people down — it’s lifting spirits, one spoonful at a time.

According to shop manager Faisal, falooda easily outpaces even their famous kulfi in popularity during the Eid holidays.

“In this heat and with everything getting so expensive, people still want something festive,” he said. “And falooda brings joy that doesn’t cost a fortune.”


Pakistan PM exchanges Eid greetings with world leaders, thanks them for support during India crisis

Updated 07 June 2025
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Pakistan PM exchanges Eid greetings with world leaders, thanks them for support during India crisis

  • Shehbaz Sharif speaks to leaders of Jordan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Qatar, Uzbekistan
  • Vows to enhance bilateral cooperation and strengthen ties further, says Sharif’s office

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday exchanged Eid Al-Adha greetings with the leaders of the Muslim nations of Jordan, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Tajikistan and Malaysia, thanking them for their efforts to bring about peace during Islamabad’s conflict with New Delhi last month.

Pakistan marked Eid Al-Adha, one of the two most important festivals of the Islamic calendar, on Saturday. Muslims mark the Eid Al-Adha holiday in Pakistan and around the world by slaughtering animals such as sheep and goats, and the meat is shared among family and friends and donated to the poor.

Sharif conveyed Eid greetings to Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, his family and the people of Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.

“The Prime Minister thanked President Ilham Aliyev, once again for Azerbaijan’s unwavering support to Pakistan during the recent Pakistan-India crisis, that demonstrated the strong bonds of brotherhood between the two countries,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.

The Pakistani premier also exchanged Eid greetings and similar calls with Qatar’s emir, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Jordan’s King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein.

Sharif’s office said the Pakistani prime minister and these leaders vowed to enhance their bilateral cooperation and further strengthen ties.

Nuclear-armed nations India and Pakistan engaged in the worst fighting between them since 1999 last month before US President Donald Trump announced he had brokered a ceasefire on May 10.


Pakistan reiterates desire to resolve outstanding issues with India via dialogue

Updated 07 June 2025
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Pakistan reiterates desire to resolve outstanding issues with India via dialogue

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif exchanges Eid greetings with Malaysian counterpart, discusses strengthening bilateral ties
  • Pakistan and India engaged in worst fighting between nuclear-armed neighbors since 1999 for four days last month

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reiterated his country’s desire to resolve its outstanding issues with India, state-run media reported, as tensions simmer between the two neighbors following their armed conflict last month.

India and Pakistan engaged in the worst fighting between the two countries since 1999, raising fears of the prospects of an all-out nuclear war. After both countries traded heavy fire for four days, pounding each other with missiles, fighter jets and drone strikes, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between them on May 10.

Speaking to his Malaysian counterpart Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the phone, Sharif thanked him for Kuala Lumpur’s “support and balanced stance” during Pakistan’s conflict with India.

“The prime minister underscored that Pakistan had always strived for regional peace and stability,” state-run Radio Pakistan said. “He reiterated that Pakistan was ready for dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.”

Sharif separately wrote on social media account X that he looks forward to Islamabad and Kuala Lumpur deepening and strengthening their bilateral ties.

“I greatly look forward to my visit to Malaysia later this year,” he wrote.

India and Pakistan, bitter rivals since they gained independence in 1947 from British rule, have fought two out of three wars over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir.

Both countries administer Kashmir in parts but claim the region entirely. Pakistan accuses India of occupying Kashmir and denying its people their right to self-determination. It regularly calls on India to abide by the United Nations Security Council resolutions and hold a transparent plebiscite in the territory.

India, on the other hand, accuses Pakistan of arming and funding militant separatists in the part of Kashmir it administers. Islamabad has denied the allegations and says it extends only diplomatic and moral support to the people of Indian-administered Kashmir.


Pakistan’s Punjab deploys over 43,000 police personnel for security on Eid Al-Adha

Updated 07 June 2025
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Pakistan’s Punjab deploys over 43,000 police personnel for security on Eid Al-Adha

  • Punjab Police places province on “high alert” amid deteriorating security situation across Pakistan
  • Police personnel deployed to secure 28,074 mosques and 890 open-air Eid prayer venues, says report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Punjab has deployed over 43,000 police officers and personnel across the province for the Eid Al-Adha holidays, state-run media reported, with police placing the province on high alert amid the prevalent security situation in the country.

As per a report in the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) on Friday, the police personnel have been deployed to secure 28,074 mosques and 890 open-air Eid prayer venues.

Pakistan has seen a surge in militant violence in recent months. Scores of citizens have been killed in the past in militant attacks that have targeted mosques and tourist destinations on public holidays.

“According to the Punjab Police spokesperson, a comprehensive security strategy has been formulated to ensure the safety of mosques, Imambargahs, Eid congregations, and the general public,” APP said on Friday.

The report said 445 Quick Response Force (QRF) teams will be stationed to enhance security readiness while 11,912 metal detectors, 225 walk-through gates and 10,466 CCTV cameras will be utilized during Eid prayers.

In Punjab’s provincial capital Lahore, over 9,000 personnel will be assigned to secure more than 5,000 Eid gatherings, the spokesperson confirmed.

“Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar has ordered heightened security measures for Eid-ul-Adha, citing the current national security situation,” the report said.

Additional police will be deployed at parks and recreational spots during the Eid holidays to ensure public safety.

The Punjab Police chief also issued a strict warning against one-wheeling, aerial firing, kite flying and rowdy behavior, the report said, stating such acts will not be tolerated.

He stressed all mosques, Imambargahs and Eid grounds must be thoroughly checked and cleared before Eid prayers. High-security mosques and Imambargahs (in category A) will have snipers posted on rooftops while plainclothes commandos will be deployed inside Eid congregations, the report said.

“The IG [inspector-general] also directed the Additional IG Traffic to personally oversee the traffic management plan across Punjab, ensuring smooth flow of traffic during Eid,” APP said.

It said police have been ordered to take preventive measures to combat street crimes and highway robberies, while extra personnel will be posted at key locations to maintain traffic flow during the holidays.

“Special instructions have been issued to ensure tourist safety in Murree and other tourist destinations,” it said. “Authorities are required to enforce SOPs for vehicle entry and exit in Murree, the IG added.”