Where is Saad Rizvi now after TLP Crakdown?

As of October 20, 2025, Punjab authorities report that Saad Rizvi, leader of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), and his brother Anas have been traced to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) following their escape from a violent police operation in Muridke on October 13. Officials deny claims of injury or custody, stating an arrest is imminent with AJK coordination, though TLP supporters allege Rizvi was shot three times and critically wounded, alongside massive unverified casualties during the clashes. This situation reflects ongoing tensions between the state and religious groups over protests against a U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan, with a broader government push including arrests, financial probes, and a potential TLP ban.

Key Points

• Reported Location: Evidence suggests Rizvi and Anas fled to AJK after the Muridke clash, with Punjab police coordinating for their arrest; no confirmation of capture yet.
• Conflicting Injury Claims: TLP asserts Rizvi was hit by three bullets and is critically injured, with Anas also wounded, but official sources reject this, emphasizing their evasion.
• Casualty Discrepancies: Government reports indicate limited deaths (one officer, three protesters), while TLP claims up to 1,000 martyred and 2000 injured, accusing authorities of burning bodies to hide evidence—figures that remain unverified and likely exaggerated.
• Broader Implications: The crackdown, including over 2,700 arrests and financial investigations, points to a potential TLP ban, raising concerns about handling dissent on issues like Palestine support.
• Uncertainty and Controversy: While some social media speculate on secret custody or death, primary sources lean toward Rizvi being on the run; independent probes could clarify the debates.

Background on the Events

The unrest began with TLP’s “Al-Aqsa Gaza March” protesting a U.S. peace plan for Gaza, seen as unfavorable to Palestinians. Clashes escalated in Muridke during a police raid, leading to Rizvi’s disappearance and fueling rumors.

What This Means

If arrested, Rizvi faces charges that could weaken TLP significantly. The discrepancies highlight challenges in verifying information during such conflicts, with calls for transparency from human rights groups.

Saad Rizvi, the prominent leader of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), has become the subject of intense speculation and concern in Pakistan following a violent confrontation with law enforcement on October 13, 2025. As of October 20, official reports from Punjab authorities indicate that Rizvi and his brother Anas have been traced to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), where efforts are underway to apprehend them in coordination with local officials. This comes amid conflicting narratives: while the government denies any injury or custody, TLP supporters claim Rizvi was critically wounded by three gunshots during the Muridke clashes, alongside allegations of widespread casualties and evidence tampering. Drawing from recent news reports and social media, this detailed overview explores Rizvi’s background, the events leading to his current status, the crackdown on TLP, and the broader political implications, providing a comprehensive look at a situation that underscores tensions between religious activism and state authority in Pakistan.

Who Is Saad Rizvi and What Drives TLP?

Saad Hussain Rizvi, now in his early 30s, assumed leadership of TLP in 2020 after the death of his father, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, the party’s founder. TLP emerged in 2015 as a religio-political movement focused on enforcing strict blasphemy laws, often mobilizing large crowds for protests that blend domestic religious fervor with international causes, such as unwavering support for Palestine. Rizvi’s education in madrasas equipped him with fluency in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Punjabi, and he served as a founding member and deputy secretary-general before taking the helm.

Under Rizvi, TLP has contested national elections twice—in 2018 and 2024—garnering over two million votes each time, though securing few seats. The party has a history of disruptive actions, including the 2017 sit-in against perceived softening of blasphemy oaths, which paralyzed parts of the country. Critics accuse TLP of targeting minorities like Ahmadis and Christians, contributing to violence around blasphemy cases, where at least 85 murders have occurred in Pakistan since 1990. Rizvi’s own past includes a 2021 arrest followed by release amid protests, illustrating the group’s leverage through street power.

The Catalyst: Al-Aqsa Gaza March and Escalation to Violence

The recent crisis originated from TLP’s “Al-Aqsa Gaza March,” announced in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s September 29, 2025, peace plan for Gaza. The proposal, ratified by Pakistan and others on October 13, called for an immediate ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, and a U.S.-led force in Gaza but lacked a definitive path to Palestinian statehood—a longstanding Pakistani demand. TLP decried it as a “conspiracy” against Palestinians, launching the march from Lahore toward Islamabad’s U.S. embassy on October 10 to rally for justice.

Protesters faced initial resistance in Lahore with tear gas and highway blockades, but the situation intensified in Muridke, about 60 km from Lahore. A pre-dawn police raid on October 13 dismantled the camp, sparking prolonged clashes. Official accounts report one police officer killed, three TLP workers dead, and over 50 injured, with terrorism charges filed against the party. In stark contrast, TLP alleges a deliberate massacre, claiming up to 1,000 martyred and 2000 injured, with accusations that authorities used heavy weaponry, burned bodies, or crushed them under armored vehicles to eliminate evidence. Variations in TLP’s figures—ranging from 250-350 killed and 1,000-1,500 injured to higher estimates—appear across social media, but remain unverified by independent sources.

Rizvi was last publicly seen in a video urging forces to cease firing before fleeing. TLP insists he sustained three bullet wounds and is critically injured, with Anas also shot. Some reports suggest he was taken into military custody post-injury, but officials refute this.

The Escape and Ongoing Search: Traced to AJK

Following the raid, Rizvi and Anas reportedly escaped on foot before mounting a motorcycle with an unidentified rider, prompting an immediate alert. Early rumors of death, injury, or custody circulated widely, but by October 20, Punjab officials confirmed tracing them to AJK and seeking local assistance for arrest, with special teams involved. Social media posts question how such a “high-value target” evaded capture, speculating on possible lapses or allowances. Contradictory claims persist, including suggestions of secret detention or even relocation to occupied Kashmir, though primary sources align with the AJK trace.

Government Crackdown: Arrests, Probes, and Potential Ban

The response has been swift and expansive: over 2,700 TLP members arrested, 2,800 placed on exit control lists, and Punjab recommending a ban on October 17 for promoting extremism. The Federal Investigation Agency uncovered 95 bank accounts linked to Rizvi, including 15 interest-bearing ones, plus foreign currency and 2 kg of gold, triggering money laundering inquiries. Sixty-one TLP-run seminaries in Punjab are under review, with some sealed and discussions on transferring them to moderate oversight.

Police maintain that protesters initiated violence, injuring dozens of officers, with affected families highlighting brutality from TLP sides. Human rights organizations, including the HRCP, demand independent investigations into alleged excessive force.

Social Media and Public Reactions

Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) reveal a polarized landscape. TLP advocates share videos and posts demanding justice, amplifying casualty claims and Rizvi’s injury. Critics, including political figures, condemn TLP’s tactics while some express outrage over arrests of Rizvi’s family members, deeming them inhumane. Journalists question operational failures, adding to suspicions.

Timeline of Key Events

Date	Event
September 29, 2025	U.S. Gaza plan announced, prompting TLP’s protest call.
October 10, 2025	March begins; clashes in Lahore.
October 13, 2025	Muridke raid: Low official casualties; TLP claims massacre, Rizvi allegedly shot three times, Anas injured; brothers escape.
October 14-16, 2025	Rumors of custody or death; officials trace to AJK amid arrests.
October 17, 2025	Punjab seeks TLP ban; financial probes intensify.
October 20, 2025	Authorities confirm AJK location; arrest expected soon.

Potential Outcomes and Wider Context

An arrest in AJK could result in charges of inciting violence and financial crimes, potentially crippling TLP—a shift from past negotiations. This crackdown, fully state-supported, contrasts with previous leniency and may redefine responses to religious dissent, particularly on sensitive topics like Palestine, where Pakistan’s official stance aligns with public sentiment but suppresses domestic unrest. The irony is noted by observers: protesting a plan Pakistan ratified leads to suppression.

Disparities between TLP’s dramatic claims and official figures may involve propaganda or information gaps, but judicial inquiries, as urged by the Lahore High Court, could provide clarity. For Pakistan, this episode tests the balance between security and rights, with risks of further escalation if unresolved. Rizvi’s evasion keeps the narrative alive, but the government’s momentum suggests a pivotal moment for TLP’s future.

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