2021 Pakistani protests

2021 Pakistani protests
Date11–20 April 2021
Location
Countrywide
Caused by
Goals
  • Exile French Ambassador
  • Lift the ban on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan
MethodsSit-in, protest, strikes, rioting
Parties
Lead figures
Casualties
Death(s)27+ (including 2 police)
Injuries40+ police and 100+ protestors injured
Arrested100+
Other protests

The 2021 Pakistani protests were a series of protests and strikes in Pakistan from 11 to 20 April 2021. Mass protests first erupted after a series of calls for nationwide rallies and picketing against the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan and his cabinet, orchestrated by banned far-right party Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) The primary motive was against France after a supposed blasphemous caricature was published there and the events surrounding the murder of Samuel Paty, a French middle school teacher. The demonstrators demanded a boycott of French goods and the expulsion of the French ambassador.

The protests intensified across Pakistan after the party's leader Saad Hussain Rizvi was arrested on 12 April 2021. It ended on 20 April 2021 when the expulsion of the French envoy was agreed to be discussed in the parliament.