Authorities confirm mobile phone and data services fully restored.

Educational institutions resume operations after 4-day suspension.

Clearance operation in Muridke follows several days of unrest.

According to police sources, the protest sit-in was brought to an end through a successful operation on Sunday night, after which the GT Road was cleared and reopened for regular traffic.

With the situation gradually stabilising, all connecting roads between Islamabad and Rawalpindi have now been reopened for commuters. In Rawalpindi, educational institutions resumed operations after a four-day suspension, while commercial activity also picked up pace, as shops and business centres reopened along Murree Road. Traffic on Murree Road and other adjoining routes was reported to be flowing smoothly.

However, the road from Murree Road leading to Faizabad remained closed, and the Metro Bus Service linking the two cities was still non-operational.

Authorities confirmed that mobile phone and data services had been fully restored across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, facilitating improved communication for residents.

Additionally, several key arteries including the IJP Road, Double Road, Expressway, and the route from Double Road to Ninth Avenue were reopened for vehicular traffic, easing movement across major junctions in the city.

The clearance operation in Muridke followed several days of unrest after TLP launched a protest march from Lahore to Islamabad. The group’s mobilisation prompted widespread concern among government officials, political parties, and the general public.

A Punjab Police spokesperson said on Monday that the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have dispersed the TLP protesters. He said that violent clashes broke out in Muridke as law enforcement agencies launched an operation to disperse TLP protesters identified as “instigators of unrest”.

As the operation commenced, workers of TLP reportedly responded with stone-pelting, and later escalated to using spiked clubs and petrol bombs. The police spokesperson confirmed that indiscriminate gunfire was also opened by the TLP members, resulting in casualties among both civilians and law enforcement personnel.

Tragically, one station house officer (SHO) on duty was martyred, and 48 police personnel sustained injuries, 17 of whom were wounded by gunfire, he said.

According to the police, three TLP members and one bystander were killed, while eight others were injured in the violence.

In the chaos, the group allegedly set fire to 40 government and private vehicles. Law enforcement responded with what was described as a “limited operation in self-defence” and succeeded in arresting several individuals involved. A search operation is still underway.

Meanwhile, in Gujranwala, major clearance operations were underway to restore normalcy. Trenches dug on GT Road in Muridke have been filled, including those at Sadhuoki and Chanda Qila. Containers that had been placed between Muridke and Gujranwala, particularly at Sadhuoki, Kamoki Toll Plaza, Lohianwala, and the Ojhla Canal, have been removed, and traffic has begun to resume in affected areas.

However, containers remain in place at the Chanda Qila Bypass and on the Chenab River bridge, where barriers continue to obstruct traffic.

Meanwhile, Punjab University notified postponement of all examinations scheduled for today, the university spokesperson confirmed. However, LLB exams will proceed as per schedule from tomorrow, 14 October.

In related developments, the Railways Department has cancelled several passenger train services for the day. The Faiz Ahmad Faiz Passenger train from Lahore to Narowal has been suspended for one day, while the 171-Up Sialkot Express, which operates from Lahore to Sialkot and Wazirabad, has also been cancelled, according to a Railways spokesperson.

Meanwhile, the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) has announced a shift to online classes in view of the current situation. According to an official notification, classes will be held online from Tuesday to Friday. The university also confirmed that classes for new semester students will begin on 20 October.

Additionally, the annual elections of the Supreme Court Bar Association will be held on 16 October. A close contest is expected between candidates backed by the traditional rivals — the Independent Group and the Professional Group.

On Sunday, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, appealed to the TLP leadership to end their march. He urged the group to extend support to the government and the armed forces during the country’s challenging circumstances.

Sanaullah noted that various political and religious entities had expressed serious reservations over the demonstration and called for political unity in the national interest.

In Lahore, the protest turned violent, leading to clashes between TLP supporters and law enforcement personnel.

According to DIG Operations Faisal Kamran, at least 112 police officers were injured, and more than 100 protesters were taken into custody. Reports indicated that demonstrators vandalised the Shahdara Town police station and caused damage to both public infrastructure and private property.

In a separate but related development, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Lahore on Sunday to discuss the overall law and order and security situation prevailing in the country.

The high-level meeting included a detailed review of counter-terrorism strategies and other significant national security concerns. Minister Naqvi briefed the premier on the current state of internal security and outlined the steps being implemented by the Interior Ministry to maintain peace and stability.

PM Shehbaz commended Naqvi and his team for their efforts in managing the situation and stressed the importance of maintaining consistent, well-coordinated, and effective measures to safeguard the lives and property of all citizens.

He reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment to ensuring the rule of law and reiterated that the protection of public life and the complete eradication of terrorism remain top priorities of the administration.