SC questions TLP’s status as political entity

Justice Qazi asks AGP how TLP was registered when it had a separate agenda from that of the state

ISLAMABAD: The top court has raised serious questions over the registration of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) as a political party.

A two-judge special bench, comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa, on Thursday resumed the hearing of a suo motu case regarding the 2017 Faizabad sit-in that disrupted routine life in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for nearly 20 days.

The bench directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to file a reply whether it was empowered to register the TLP as a political party under the Political Parties Rules of 2002.



It also asked the ECP to submit TLP’s application for registration as a political party.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) was asked to explain actions taken to stop live transmission of two private news channels

At the onset of the hearing, Attorney General for Pakistan Anwar Mansoor stated that the defence secretary had filed a report in which all the queries of the court had been responded to.



“The TLP has been registered as a political party under the Political Parties Rules 2002,” he added. “It is neither banned nor a proscribed organisation.”

Justice Qazi wondered, “When a body says that it does not believe in the Constitution of Pakistan, can it be registered?”

The AGP replied, “The ECP has to see that aspect. Protest is lawful but to paralyse the city is illegal. Unlawful activity for a lawful purpose is unlawful.”

Justice Qazi also raised the question whether al-Qaeda, which does not recognise the Constitution of Pakistan and propagates violence, should be registered as a political party if it applies? The attorney general’s reply was “no”.

Justice Qazi then asked how the TLP was registered when it had a separate agenda from that of the state of Pakistan.

The case was adjourned until the second week of November.