Pakistan's far-right group vows to march on capital after deadly clashes

A banned far-right religious party has prepared to march on Pakistan's capital Islamabad even as authorities vowed to hold them back with force, following deadly clashes the previous day. 

Thousands of members of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) group had been gathered since Friday on a highway, just outside the eastern city of Lahore, with a series of demands including the release of their imprisoned leader. On Wednesday they began marching north towards Pakistan's capital. 

"We have started marching towards Islamabad, police have barricaded the road, but we will remove them," a TLP spokesman said on Thursday. 

READ MORE: Several Pakistani police killed by gunfire at rally of banned group

Deadly clashes with police

Clashes on Wednesday evening killed around four police officers and several TLP members, and wounded dozens.

The country's information minister had said they would be treated with full force as a militant group and not allowed to enter the capital, where shipping containers had been set up to block roads. 

"Police from three districts have been called while Rangers are on the alert," a senior police official told Reuters requesting anonymity, referring to paramilitary troops that the government had called on to help contain the protesters, who were blocking Pakistan's busiest highway.

READ MORE: Outlawed religious party suspends protests after deal with Pakistan govt

A government team was negotiating with the TLP, with talks led by its chief, Saad Rizvi, from a prison in Lahore, two government sources told media. 

A provincial Punjab government spokesman did not immediately respond to request for comment. The talks were confirmed by the TLP.

"The government initiated another round of talks with TLP ... Saad Rizvi and two other leaders are participating in talks with the TLP side," a TLP spokesman said.

Besides demanding the release of their leader, the TLP activists have been calling for the expulsion of France's ambassador over the publication of a series of caricatures depicting the Prophet Mohammad by a French satirical magazine.

It is the group's third countrywide protest campaign since 2017 over caricatures that are considered deeply insulting by Muslims.

READ MORE: Pakistan to ban far-right religious party over violent protests