It was minutes after the news regarding the arrest of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Chief Saad Hussain Rizvi went public, protests in different cities brought the country to a standstill.
Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mahmood Dogar said the TLP chief was apprehended to maintain law and order.
The preemptive measure sparked protests in different major cities of Pakistan including Karachi and Lahore.
The nationwide protests brought the country to a halt as logjams were witnessed in multiple cities.
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Amid the coronavirus situation, dozens of ambulances were reportedly stuck in the traffic snarl-ups and critical patients could not be moved to the hospitals in time.
The oxygen cylinders were not delivered to healthcare facilities as TLP workers had blocked the roads.
In some cities, the demonstrators turned violent and damaged vehicles that tried to pass through the congregations.
Lahore
In the city of Lahore where the TLP chief was apprehended, the protestors blocked several main arteries which created hours-long traffic jams.
According to Lahore police, at least 32 points in the city were blocked by the demonstrators.
Karachi
In Karachi, the protesters blocked main thoroughfares including II Chundrigar Road, Garden, Jail Chowrangi, Numaish, Malir, Baldia Town, Airport Road, Tower, North Nazimabad, and Hassan Square.
Islamabad
In the federal capital, TLP workers gathered at Uthal Chowk in the Barakahu area.
It interrupted the traffic coming from Murree while the protesters also moved to highways which created gridlocks.
Road Blockade Update!@ICT_Police @PoliceAwam @PunjabSafe
#lahore #Rawalpindi #islamabad pic.twitter.com/4tAbf5CuDx— National Highways & Motorway Police (NHMP) (@NHMPofficial) April 12, 2021
Rawalpindi
In Rawalpindi, the demonstrators assembled at Committee Chowk and forced motorists to return.
#Rawalpindi’s Murree road blocked by TLP workers. pic.twitter.com/KJmY5ChK0O
— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) April 12, 2021
Multan
TLP workers took to Bahawalpur Bypass owing to which long queues of vehicles were formed.