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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government on Sunday urged the religious-political Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party to call off or postpone its protest march toward Islamabad, saying the country needed national unity as its military confronted heightened security challenges along the Afghan border.

The march, which began in the eastern city of Lahore earlier this week, has advanced to the town of Muridke, about 33 kilometers away, as TLP supporters vow to continue toward the capital. The group says it plans to stage a demonstration outside the US embassy to express solidarity with Palestinians.

On Sunday, authorities partially reopened key highways and restored mobile Internet in parts of Islamabad and the adjoining city of Rawalpindi after days of restrictions. However, several major intersections, including Faizabad, remained closed for a third consecutive day.

The TLP’s protest march is taking place amid an unprecedented escalation of hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Earlier in the week, Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of bombing the capital, Kabul, and a market in the country’s east. Pakistan did not claim responsibility for the assault. On Sunday, the Afghan Taliban said they had killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in overnight border operations in response to what it said were repeated violations of its territory and airspace. Pakistan’s army has confirmed 23 of its soldiers were killed and 29 wounded.

“At this critical time, when Pakistan is focused on safeguarding its borders and avenging the blood of its brave martyrs, the TLP should cancel or postpone its protest in the name of the martyrs,” Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, told reporters in Islamabad.

He said the Gaza issue, which the march was meant to highlight, was already nearing diplomatic resolution, referring to a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that held in Gaza for a third day on Sunday.

“This march should instead have been carried as an expression of solidarity with the government of Pakistan for its efforts [in securing Gaza peace] which are being recognized by the whole world,” Sanaullah said.

Defying the government’s appeal, TLP spokesperson Rehan Khan told Arab News the group would press on if talks with officials failed to reach a settlement.

“We would proceed with the march as planned if negotiations failed to produce any result,” he said.

He said the government had not made contact with TLP since talks were last held on Saturday. 

“TLP is still waiting for the government to resume talks, but the lack of communication from them is extremely concerning,” Khan said. “Even before the start of the march, there was no contact made with TLP, and as soon as the dialogue process began, the party halted its march at Muridke.”

Khan said more than 15 of the group’s supporters had been killed and over 70 critically injured since the march began. The figures could not been independently verified, and both the federal and Punjab provincial governments have yet to comment on the reported casualties.

Police in Punjab province meanwhile say nearly 100 personnel were injured in clashes with TLP supporters as the group attempted to move toward the capital from Lahore and other cities.

Islamabad Police spokesperson Taqi Jawad told Arab News some roads in the capital had been reopened on Sunday while others remained closed for security reasons. 

“A few roads have been fully reopened, while others remain partially open. Only key points are completely blocked,” he said.

The TLP, a religious political party founded in 2015, has gained notoriety for large-scale street demonstrations that often turn violent. It has staged several sit-ins in Islamabad since its rise to prominence, mobilizing tens of thousands of followers on issues related to the blasphemy laws and foreign policy.

LAHORE, Pakistan: Opener Imam-ul-Haq missed out on his comeback test century as Pakistan recovered well from a brief collapse on an abrasive wicket to reach 313-5 against world champion South Africa in the first test on Sunday.
Imam played a fluent knock of 93 in his first test match after almost two years and together with captain Shan Masood, who made 76, gave Pakistan a strong start to its new World Test Championship cycle with a 161-run second-wicket stand.

The three South African spinners toiled hard but caught a break when they claimed three quick wickets without a run before Mohammad Rizwan (62 no) and Salman Ali Agha (52 no) struck unbeaten half centuries and gave Pakistan an early edge against the defending world test champion.

Both batters dominated the spinners with their strong sweep shots in a dominating final session for Pakistan that saw South Africa claiming the only wicket — struggling batter Babar Azam (23).

Rizwan had two narrow escapes before completing his half-century when captain Aiden Markram couldn’t snap a low catch in the slip and then the batter successfully overturned an lbw decision through referral.

Agha was fortunate late in the final session when Markram spilled a regulation edge after left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy (2-101) had created an opportunity with the second new ball on a dry wicket.

Imam and Masood controlled the spin trio of Muthusamy, Simon Harmer (1-75) and Prenelan Subrayen (1-72) after Kagiso Rabada (1-43) provided the Proteas’ breakthrough with his third ball by winning an lbw decision against Abdullah Shafique through television referral.

Both batted flawlessly against the spinners with some good running between the wickets and carried Pakistan to 107-1 by lunch. South Africa squandered two catching opportunities in Surbrayen’s successive overs that could have dismissed both left-handers in the second session.

Toni de Zorzi couldn’t grab a reflex catch off Masood at forward short leg and Wiaan Mulder couldn’t hold onto a sharp catch of Imam’s drive at mid-off.

The aggressive partnership between Imam and Masood was Pakistan’s joint-best partnership for the second wicket against South Africa, equaling Kamran Akmal and Younis Khan’s stand of 161 at the same ground in 2007.

Subrayen finally broke the stand when he had Masood trapped lbw off a fuller delivery that didn’t turn much. Then Muthusamy grabbed two wickets in two balls when de Zorzi didn’t miss another opportunity close to the wicket to end Imam’s brilliant knock.

Saud Shakeel left Muthusamy on a hat-trick when he offered a tame return catch off the leading edge as Pakistan went to tea at 199-4.

Babar had a nervy start when he overturned a caught behind decision by television referral before hitting four boundaries but he was undone by Harmer’s sharp turning delivery soon after tea as he prodded forward and South Africa won the lbw decision through the TV umpire and left Pakistan in a spot of bother at 199-5.

South Africa is coming off a 10-match winning streak that saw Temba Bavuma lead the side to the WTC title at Lord’s in a five-wicket victory over Australia in the final.

Bavuma will miss this series due to a calf injury he sustained during the limited-overs series against England, with Aiden Markram stepping in as skipper for the Proteas.

Pakistan came into the new WTC cycle with only three wins in its last 12 test matches. Off-spinner Sajid Khan has recovered from flu and will pair with left-arm spinner Noman Ali to counter a strong South African batting lineup with Salman Ali Agha providing another spin option for the home team.

Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will be playing his first test in a year while Pakistan also included paceman Hasan Ali, who last played in this format against Australia at Sydney in January 2024.

Qaddafi Stadium is hosting only its second test match since test cricket returned to Pakistan in 2019 after a decade in hiatus.