Protests across Pakistan after far-right TLP leader arrested

Protests began after Saad Rizvi, leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan party, was arrested by police in Lahore.

Islamabad, Pakistan – Protests have erupted in several cities across Pakistan after police took into custody the leader of a far-right religious party known for holding mass demonstrations over the issue of “blasphemy”. On Monday evening, several major intercity highways were closed by police as protests broke out in Pakistan’s largest city of Karachi, the eastern city of Lahore, outside the capital Islamabad and in several other areas. Local media reported clashes between police and protesters in Lahore and elsewhere.