Where is Saad Rizvi actually? Is he hiding somewhere on his own, or is he in the custody of some security agency? Some people are also saying that he is injured and was shot. Violence erupted in Muridke, Punjab, following clashes between police and supporters of the banned religious group Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), leaving at least one police officer dead and dozens injured. The unrest, which later spread to other parts of the country, was fuelled by confusion and conflicting claims about the condition of TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi and his brother, Anas Rizvi.

The clashes began when police launched an operation to dismantle a TLP protest camp along the Grand Trunk (GT) Road. According to law enforcement officials, TLP workers resisted the operation violently, attacking police with sticks, stones, firearms, and petrol bombs. During the confrontation, Factory Area Police Station SHO Shehzad Nawaz was killed, while many police officers, protesters, and civilians sustained injuries. Government and private vehicles were torched, parts of Muridke’s vegetable market were set on fire, and public infrastructure suffered extensive damage.

In response, police registered terrorism cases against TLP leaders and workers under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Pakistan Penal Code, including charges of murder, rioting, arson, and damage to public property. Officials described the accused as having engaged in “anti-state activities” and said raids were underway to arrest those who were involved. Security was tightened across Muridke and surrounding areas to prevent further unrest.

Amid the violence, confusion grew over the fate of Saad Rizvi. A statement attributed to TLP circulated on social media claiming that Rizvi and his brother were in the custody of security agencies. However, senior law enforcement officials strongly denied this, insisting the brothers were not detained and had instead fled to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where they were allegedly hiding with the help of loyal supporters. Federal authorities also denied having them in custody.

TLP supporters, meanwhile, claimed Rizvi was shot and injured during the clashes and taken away secretly, sparking protests across major cities. Roads were blocked, tyres were burned, and educational institutions were closed due to security concerns. Despite the speculation, no official source or TLP representative has confirmed Rizvi’s location or condition.

TLP party members are saying only one thing: that they want Saad Rizvi back and they want justice. But the question is, is Saad Rizvi in anyone’s custody, and if he is, will he be released? Will these protests bring him back?

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)