South Punjab ticket holders quit TLP

MULTAN:

A number of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) ticket holders from South Punjab announced on Friday that they were parting ways with the banned group, saying its latest protest call was unjustified and detrimental to the country's interests.

Addressing a press conference in Multan, the former TLP ticket holders said their decision to part ways was made without any external pressure. They criticised the party leadership for "exploiting the Palestinian cause" to stir domestic unrest.

"The TLP had no reason to protest in the name of Palestine," one of the leaders said. "Even the Palestinians were satisfied with the agreement, yet the party gave a call for protests here. It was an inappropriate move at a time when the country was facing external and internal challenges."

The dissidents said that the TLP's long march inflicted damage on the country rather than serving any national or religious purpose. "We are leaving TLP and will not be part of any movement that destabilises Pakistan."

"This country was created in the name of the Kalma. It will exist till the end of time. No hostile power can cast an evil eye on it," he said.

Muhammad Hussain Babar said the group was separating from the TLP without any coercion. Rao Arif Sajjad added that Pakistan cannot afford chaos and internal discord.

A leader said the party was "systematically benefiting the enemies of the country," which was why "we've decided to separate ourselves from TLP".

He further noted that militants from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had also expressed their backing for the TLP in a recently released video message.

Last week, the Interior Ministry formally imposed a ban on the TLP, stating that the federal government had "reasonable grounds" to believe the religio-political group was involved in acts of terrorism.

The decision came a day after the federal cabinet, acting on a proposal from the Punjab government, approved the proscription under the Anti-Terrorism Act. It followed days of violent demonstrations over Gaza that left several protesters and police officers dead while paralysing major highways and urban centres from Karachi to Islamabad.