Pakistan: Sunni Organisations Demand Release of TLP Leaders, Reopening of Sealed Mosques

LAHORE — Leaders of Sunni organisations held an emergency meeting in Lahore on Monday and demanded the immediate release of detained workers and leaders of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and the reopening of mosques, madrassas and khanqahs that authorities have sealed, the groups said in a joint statement.

The gathering, chaired by Pirzada Muhammad Amin Qadri, called for a judicial commission into the Muridke incident and urged the government to engage with “genuine” representatives of the Sunni organisations for negotiations. The statement said the organisations reject recent measures that they described as targeting their places of worship and religious schools.

Speakers at the meeting — which the communiqué said included figures from the Milli Yakjehti Council and Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Noorani) — warned that the community would mobilise further if their demands were not met and announced a central shura session scheduled for Oct. 25 in Lahore.

The sit-down comes amid continued enforcement action against TLP activists after large protests and shutdowns in several cities. Security forces have arrested dozens of TLP supporters in recent days as authorities sought to restore order following demonstrations that disrupted major urban centres.

Government officials have said security operations and closures of specific premises are aimed at preventing violence and maintaining public order; meanwhile, Sunni leaders call those moves unjustified and have demanded talks and the immediate lifting of seals on religious institutions.