Interior ministry notifies ban on TLP after federal cabinet approval
Supporters of the banned Islamist political party TLP chant slogans during a protest rally in Lahore, Pakistan October 22, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS
The Ministry of Interior has issued a notification regarding the ban on the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), stating that the federal government has "reasonable grounds to believe that TLP is connected and involved in terrorism".
The notification, issued on Friday under Section 11B (1)(a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, stating that the federal government orders the TLP to be a proscribed organisation for the purpose of the Act and list the aforesaid organisation in the first schedule to the said Act.
Federal cabinet on Thursday, unanimously approved a ban on TLP under the Anti-Terrorism Act, following a request from the Punjab government citing the group’s violent and extremist activities.
The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. The interior ministry presented a summary recommending the ban after receiving formal approval from Punjab authorities. Senior Punjab officials joined the session via video link.
“Since 2016, this organisation has fuelled agitation nationwide,” the briefing stated, adding that past violent demonstrations had resulted in the deaths of security personnel and innocent bystanders.
The Govt has proscribed TLP under ATA, not the Elections Act/Art 17 of the Constitution
There is no indication yet that the Govt also plans on dissolving TLP as a political party by making a declaration under Elections Act/Art 17 and referring the matter to the SC https://t.co/Jr7Lb2f2E5 pic.twitter.com/vYuLGXpfSUThis marks the second time the group has been outlawed. The first ban was enforced on April 15, 2021, under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and later revoked on November 7 the same year.
Under Article 17 of the Constitution, citizens have the right to form political parties. However, under clause (2) of the article, a political party can be banned if it is found to be foreign-funded or considered a threat to national security. The federal cabinet holds the authority to approve such a ban on these grounds.
Following the government’s declaration, the Ministry of Interior is required to file a reference with the Supreme Court within 15 days. The Supreme Court’s decision on this reference will be final.
If the court upholds the government’s reference, the political party will be formally declared proscribed. Once banned, all public representatives belonging to that party will have their memberships immediately suspended.
Read: Federal cabinet outlaws TLP on Punjab's request after violent protest in Muridke
Last week, Punjab government had recommend to the Centre that a complete ban be imposed on the religious party, whose Gaza March was forcefully dispersed by authorities on October 13 in Muridke.
In a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, it was agreed that TLP leaders and workers, involved in the death of police officers and damaging public property, will be tried in anti-terrorism courts (ATCs).
The Punjab Police claimed that during the Muridke crackdown, the TLP protesters resorted to violence that resulted in the death of one station house officer (SHO) while 48 police and Rangers personnel sustained injuries during the clashes with 17 wounded by gunfire. Durng the violence and clashes, three TLP workers and one passerby also lost their lives, while at least 30 civilians were injured.
Read more: Can the TLP actually be banned?
The TLP had planned to march to Islamabad to protest outside the US Embassy in a show of solidarity with Palestinians. As police and protesters clashed, demonstrators set scores of vehicles on fire.
Following failed negotiations, the government moved to crack down, launching a six-hour operation in Muridke to disperse the protestors. This led to mass arrests, with the TLP claiming the deaths of several workers, including conflicting reports that party chief Saad Rizvi had been shot and injured.
In view of the violence, the meeting decided to place the TLP leadership under the Fourth Schedule of the ATA. It resolved to hand over all properties and assets of the party to the Auqaf Department and impose a complete ban on its posters, banners, and advertisements.
It was also decided that all of TLP's social media accounts will also be blocked, bank accounts of the party will be frozen and strict action will be taken for any violation of the Loudspeaker Act.