ATC declares 24 TLP workers proclaimed offenders in Lahore violence case

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court in Lahore on Thursday declared 24 workers of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) as proclaimed offenders in a case related to violence, vandalism and attacks on police.

The order was passed by ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill during proceedings on a petition moved by the police, who sought action against suspects said to be absconding in the case. The court also issued perpetual arrest warrants for all 24 suspects after accepting the police request.

According to the prosecution, the suspects had gone into hiding to avoid arrest despite the publication of proclamation notices directing them to appear before the court. The investigating officer told the court that the men had failed to turn up and were deliberately evading the proceedings because of fear of arrest.

The case was registered by Shahdara Police in 2025. The FIR includes allegations of vandalism, setting state property on fire and violence against police officials.

Court order and police case

During the hearing, the court considered the police plea regarding the absence of the suspects and the steps already taken to secure their appearance. After allowing the application, Judge Gill declared the 24 men proclaimed offenders and ordered law enforcement agencies to ensure their arrest in accordance with the law.

The proclaimed offenders named in the case are Waqas Ahmad, Hafiz Muhammad Riaz, Muhammad Mumtaz, Sarmad Ali, Jabar Rasool, Amjad Bakhsh, Niaz Hussain, Muhammad Usman, Zahid Hussain, Rab Nawaz Jatt, Rab Nawaz Chachar, Muhammad Sohail, Abu Bakar Siddiq, Muhammad Nadeem, Ghulam Murtaza, Muhammad Ali Naazir, Nayyar Shams, Muhammad Bilal, Muhammad Fayyaz Bhatti, Muhammad Afzal, Zahoor Shah, Arsalan, Ansar Iqbal and Muhammad Asif.

The prosecution maintained that proclamation notices had already been published, but the suspects did not appear before the court. The investigating officer said their continued absence showed they were intentionally avoiding the legal process.

The judge directed the law enforcement agencies to ensure the arrest of the proclaimed offenders in accordance with the law.

The development came in connection with a violence case in which police have accused the suspects of involvement in attacks on officials and damage to public property. Thursday’s order means the accused have now formally been declared absconders by the court, while law enforcement authorities have also been empowered through perpetual warrants to arrest them.

The proceedings were held before the anti-terrorism court in Lahore, where the police petition was taken up and decided the same day.