Veteran Pakistani Journalist Hamid Mir has lashed out at the Pakistani government for allegedly censoring the massive protests staged by radical group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Lahore and other major cities over the last few days, saying that people are being forced to watch Indian TV channels to get information about the stir.
In a video posted on his channel, Mir said that Pakistani TV channels are not allowed to air or discuss the issue, which has gripped some of the major cities of the country over the last week.
"Lahore is known as the heart of Pakistan and a demonstration is being held there. On the first day, two or three protesters were killed, the next day there was a massive stir ... it even reached Muridke where a policeman died. Many others died. However, we are not allowed to discuss the reasons behind the protest," Mir said.
He added that people are forced to get details about the protest from Indian TV channels and foreign media outlets.
" ... Indian media started discussing the issue and even displayed a picture of Saad Rizvi and gave information about him. Now people have started watching Indian TV channels for information (on the stir). This has impacted the credibility of Pakistani TV and newspapers who were forced to kill the reports about the protests. If you have to watch Indian TV channels for information about the protest, then it indeed warrants a discussion here," Mir rued while criticising the censorship by the Shehbaz Sharif government.
Lahore city has been virtually paralysed following violent clashes between police and the TLP workers, who had threatened to march to Islamabad to stage a protest against Israel's aggression on Gaza.
Dozens of people, including cops, have died in the protest that began last week. The TLP, historically backed at times by the Pakistani military to pressure civilian governments, has been repeatedly banned for its disruptive protests but continues to exert significant influence, often weaponising religious sentiment.
The Pakistani government has accused the group of exploiting the Gaza conflict for “political gain” while deploying heavy security and closing down road access and communication services in major cities to contain the unrest.
As tensions escalated, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to review the country's internal security and law and order situation.
The Prime Minister's Office said Naqvi briefed him on ongoing counterterrorism efforts and steps taken by the Interior Ministry to stabilise the situation.
The hardline group was banned in April 2021 after its members clashed with police over its leader Saad Rizvi arrested under anti-terror laws. However, the ban was later lifted, as per Dawn.
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