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) [2][3] 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.

[11][12] The protests were called off on 16 November 2020 after the Government of Pakistan reached an agreement with TLP by seeking more time to discuss the matter in parliament.

On 12 April, after Rizvi was arrested in Lahore charged under Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 (ATA), which further angered protesters, causing widespread unrest.

[17][18][3][19] Protests broke out across the country, with TLP activists blocking transport routes and cutting off cities including Lahore, Dina, Islamabad, Peshawar and Gujranwala from each other.

[24] The Pakistan government banned the TLP on 15 April, accusing them of terrorism as their protestors had engaged in street violence and attacked public law enforcers.

[26] On the same day, the Pakistani government released an alleged statement by Saad Rizvi, asking protestors to stand down and peacefully disperse.

[32] An anonymous Pakistani diplomat speaking to the French newspaper, Le Figaro, said that their country's [Pakistan's] international reputation was deteriorating due the actions of the TLP.