A Pakistani Islamic group has taken six security personnel hostage after the group leader was arrested, leading to clashes with police. Reuters reported.
Lahore police spokesman Arif Rana told Reuters that a senior police officer and two paramilitary officers were being held captive by the group The Tehrik-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP).
Roads leading to the group’s headquarters in Lahore have been blocked.
“The TLP activists have two fuel trucks containing thousands of liters of petrol. They are throwing petrol bombs and stones at security officers and also shooting bullets, injuring 11 officials,” Rana told Reuters.
TLP warned the government they had until April 20 to ban the French ambassador over a cartoon depicting the Prophet Mohammad, which led to the Pakistani authorities arresting their leader. This led to protests and sit-ins in the country, which became violent as four people died and hundreds were injured during the violent clashes.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Saturday that the group had been banned for “challenging the state and using street violence and attacking the public and law enforcement.”
The government has banned state news outlets from covering the clashes with the banned group.
France advised their citizens to leave the country temporarily for security reasons last week.