By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: The provincial Punjab government said on Thursday it would recommend a ban on Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, a religio-political party known for its hardline Islamist views, amid a broadening crackdown following violent clashes this week.
The move emerged from an extraordinary meeting on law and order convened by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, where officials made what her office described as “historic decisions … to establish the state’s writ and supremacy of the law.”
A statement from the chief minister’s office outlined measures against an “extremist party,” without naming it, but Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari confirmed to media that the actions targeted Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan.
Among the decisions, the Punjab government said it would “recommend the federal government to impose a ban on an extremist party.” It added that “the extremist party’s leadership will be placed in the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act,” referring to a provision under the 1997 law that lists individuals suspected of terrorism or sectarianism and subjects them to restrictions like travel bans and financial monitoring. “Individuals involved in hate speech, incitement and violation of law will be arrested immediately in Punjab,” the statement said.
Cases against “leaders and workers involved in the martyrdoms of police officers and damage to state property” would be tried in anti-terrorism courts, the statement said. The measures extend to the party’s operations and assets. “All properties and assets of the extremist party will be handed over to the Punjab Auqaf Department,” the statement said, referring to the provincial body that oversees religious endowments. “There will be a complete ban on the extremist party’s posters, banners and advertisements.”
In addition, “all bank accounts” of the party would be frozen, and its social media accounts “spreading hatred will be taken down,” according to the handout. The government also vowed “strict action on the violation of the Loudspeaker Act,” which regulates the use of amplifiers for public announcements.
The announcements come in the wake of a large-scale pre-dawn operation by law enforcement agencies on Monday to dismantle a TLP protest camp in Muridke, near Lahore. The party had organised what it called a “Gaza solidarity” march, aiming to reach Islamabad and demonstrate outside the United States Embassy.
The raid sparked violent clashes, widespread chaos and multiple arrests. Official figures show that 2,716 people have been arrested since the Muridke operation, including 251 by Lahore police and 178 by Sheikhupura police. Around 2,800 others have been barred from travelling abroad, according to Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry.
As police continue their crackdown, authorities have signaled an intent to “neutralise” what they see as the threat posed by the TLP since its founding, citing its history of violent agitations, attacks on law enforcers and ransacking of Christian and Ahmadiyya places of worship. Discussions in recent meetings have focused on the group’s record, officials said.
Chaudhry, the interior minister of state, said action against TLP protesters would be taken in a manner similar to that against those involved in the May 9, 2023, riots, which prompted a nationwide crackdown on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party of former prime minister Imran Khan.
In a related step, the Punjab government has appointed special public prosecutors to handle terrorism cases against the TLP in Lahore and Sheikhupura Districts. An order from the province’s public prosecution department, issued on Wednesday, named Advocate Supreme Court Rana Shakeel Ahmed Khan and Advocate High Court Chaudhry Khalid Rasheed for the role. The appointments, made under Section 18 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, followed a request from the Lahore deputy inspector general (legal) to the Punjab police chief, Dr. Usman Awan.
The prosecutors will coordinate with investigation officers and joint investigation teams for “efficient investigation, proper preparation of case files and represent the state before trial courts in all matters including remands, bails and trials etc; and Honorable Lahore High Court, Lahore (Principle Seat) in all matters, including bails, appeals, revisions, petitions for suspension of sentence, writs and other miscellaneous applications.” Terms and conditions for the appointments will be issued separately, the order stated.
The TLP, which gained prominence in 2017 through protests against perceived blasphemy, has repeatedly mobilized supporters for street actions that have turned deadly.
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