ISLAMABAD; The federal government has formally banned the religio-political party Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) following recent violent protests across Punjab and other parts of the country.
The decision was approved unanimously during a meeting of the federal cabinet on Thursday, based on the Punjab government’s recommendation. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the interior ministry presented the summary to the cabinet, highlighting the TLP’s continued involvement in violent and terrorist activities.
Officials briefed the cabinet that despite being banned once in 2021 — a restriction that was lifted after six months on the assurance that the group would refrain from violence — the party had once again violated those guarantees. Past incidents linked to TLP demonstrations have resulted in the deaths of police personnel and innocent civilians.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah told Geo News that the purpose of the ban was to eliminate extremist and violent tendencies within the organization, not to suppress its religious ideology. He reminded that similar actions were taken in 2021 under the ATA, but the TLP failed to honor its commitments.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that the party’s actions amounted to those of an extremist outfit, leaving the government no choice but to impose the ban after evaluating reports from all provinces. He said the TLP had been found involved in inciting sectarianism and violence, and those adopting such paths could not be allowed political space.
Under the law, the ban means the TLP will be placed on the National Counter-Terrorism Authority’s list of proscribed organizations, facing restrictions on funding, movement, and public activities. However, analysts note that the Supreme Court has the final authority to uphold or strike down the ban under Article 17(2) of the Constitution.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the provincial government had provided detailed evidence of the TLP’s violent actions, including the snatching of weapons and vehicles from police during past protests. She revealed that during recent demonstrations, the group damaged police property, seized arms, and used them against law enforcement.
Bokhari added that 559 suspects had been sent on physical remand, with 161 jailed and 190 on judicial remand. She said social media monitoring had also led to the blocking of 75 accounts spreading hate content, while 107 individuals were arrested.
She further disclosed that 3,800 financiers of TLP had been identified, their funding sources blocked, and 95 bank accounts frozen. The government has also taken over 130 mosques and 223 seminaries affiliated with TLP, placing them under the Auqaf Department.
The Punjab government has requested that the TLP leadership, including chief Saad Rizvi, be placed in the Fourth Schedule of the ATA. Authorities claim to have traced Rizvi and his brother to Azad Jammu and Kashmir and are coordinating with local officials for their arrest.
The government insists the action is not against any sect but is aimed at curbing extremism and restoring public order.
