Islamabad (TIP)- Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet on Thursday, Oct 23, approved the Punjab government’s decision, under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), to ban the extremist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party, which recently staged violent protests that killed 16 people, including policemen.
The cabinet meeting, chaired by the prime minister, discussed the Punjab government’s proposal to outlaw the religious group under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the cabinet unanimously approved the ban after the interior ministry presented a summary of the Punjab government’s request and briefed members on the “violent and terrorist activities of the TLP in the country.” The statement noted that the TLP has a history of violent protests since 2017, news agency PTI reported.
“The meeting was informed that this organisation (TLP), established in 2016, has repeatedly incited violence across the country, leading to unrest in several regions,” the PMO said.
The statement also pointed out that the organisation had been banned in 2021, a decision lifted six months later on the condition that the party would refrain from violence and unrest. Officials said the new ban was prompted by the group’s violation of those guarantees.
“In the past, security personnel and innocent bystanders have been killed in violent protests and rallies by the TLP. The federal cabinet, after a detailed briefing and the recommendation of the Punjab government, unanimously concluded that the TLP has been involved in terrorism and violent acts,” the statement said.
After the ban, the TLP will be entered into the list of proscribed organisations maintained by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA). That list already includes militant groups such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
According to procedure, the federal government must refer the matter to the Supreme Court within 15 days of its decision for endorsement. The group will be officially added to the list of proscribed organisations once confirmed by the top court.
The Punjab government had earlier decided on October 16, in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, to ban the TLP. The move came five days after the religious-political party launched a “Gaza solidarity” march, pledging to reach Islamabad and protest outside the US Embassy.
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