- Punjab information minister says summary seeks inclusion of TLP leaders in Fourth Schedule of ATA
- Says state ‘can’t allow paralysis in name of religion anymore,’ asserting Pakistan can’t afford this anymore
- Rejects allegations govt had avoided dialogue, saying ‘multiple attempts’ made to engage with protesters but were met with violence
LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said on Friday that the provincial government had forwarded a summary to the Centre seeking a ban on the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), following approval by the provincial cabinet.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Bokhari said the province had fulfilled its legal obligation, adding that the federal government would now take a final decision on the summary.
Her statement came a day after the Punjab cabinet decided to request the Centre to outlaw the TLP, which recently attempted a protest march “in solidarity with Gaza” with the declared aim of reaching Islamabad and staging a demonstration outside the US embassy.
However, on Monday, law enforcement agencies launched a pre-dawn operation in Muridke, where the TLP had set up a protest camp, sparking violent clashes, chaos, and dozens of arrests, effectively ending the march prematurely.
At the outset of her presser, Bokhari indirectly referred to the TLP, criticising a “protest called in the name of Gaza” that continued “illogically” even after a truce took effect in the besieged strip.
She said the demonstration “turned bloody as always”, adding: “This is not the first time that this group has resorted to such acts. Be it 2017, 2019, 2021 or 2022 — their repeated attempts to paralyse the country cannot be allowed anymore.”
Bokhari said the state and government had decided together that such disruption would no longer be tolerated. “Pakistan cannot afford this anymore,” she asserted.
Rejecting allegations that the government had avoided dialogue, she said authorities made “multiple attempts to engage” with the protesters but were met with violence.
“They set vehicles on fire and attacked policemen. Were those police personnel and vehicles a hurdle in resolving the Gaza issue?” she asked.
The minister thanked traders, transporters, and the public for “rejecting the call” for another protest after Friday prayers. Intelligence reports had earlier warned of potential violence if the TLP mobilised again, while police had prepared a plan to detain the group’s leadership.
Bokhari also played two videos purportedly from Lahore and Rawalpindi showing normal city life, saying it proved that “no one will be allowed to hold the country hostage anymore.”
She said 1,648 policemen were injured during last week’s unrest, including 202 seriously wounded, questioning, “Was that a peaceful protest?”
Clarifying that the new measures were not directed against any religion or sect, Bokhari said they targeted only “the extremist group with a record of inciting violence and killing citizens.”
Detailing the decisions, she said Punjab had formally moved to ban the TLP and recommended that its leadership be placed in the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which lists individuals suspected of terrorism or sectarian activity.
She recalled that the federal government had previously banned the TLP in April 2021, also on Punjab’s recommendation, but the decision was revoked in November 2021 following a deal to end another violent march.
Other measures announced include zero tolerance for misuse of loudspeakers to spread hate or incite violence; Cases under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for glorifying protests or spreading false information online; Sealing of social media and bank accounts of the extremist group; A ban on the display of weapons and suspension of new arms licences in Punjab; and a one-month deadline for citizens to surrender illegal weapons or face terrorism charges.
She added that legal firearms must be re-registered at Khidmat Centres, warning of action against non-compliance.
Bokhari disclosed that 108 FIRs related to attempts to create unrest had been registered in Punjab this year, including 71 under terrorism laws, alleging a coordinated plan to destabilise the province.
Apparently referring to the PTI, she said another political group had attempted to join the latest protest but was rejected by the public—”a slap for both extremist outfits that called for demonstrations,” she said.
Court seeks Punjab govt, police replies to TLP pleas
In a related development, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday sought replies from the Punjab government and police by October 23 to petitions filed by the TLP seeking the return of bodies of its workers allegedly killed during the Muridke operation and medical treatment for the injured.
Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhry heard the case, with Advocate Naseem Usman representing the TLP.
The petitions allege that over 600 party workers were killed in the police action, while party chief Saad Rizvi and his brother Anas Rizvi sustained bullet injuries and were allegedly taken into custody along with others.
The pleas also request the court to order the release of detained leaders and the return of the party’s Multan Road headquarters, which they claim was seized by law enforcement agencies.
This post is a great starting point for anyone new to the subject.