Interior ministry declares TLP proscribed outfit in line with cabinet's decision

• Ministry bans TLP under Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
• TLP added to banned list under First Schedule of ATA.
• Govt to file reference against TLP in Supreme Court. 

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior on Friday notified a ban on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), declaring the religio-political party a proscribed organisation under the anti-terrorism act (ATA).

The notification, issued by the Ministry of Interior, stated that the federal government has "reasonable grounds to believe that Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan is connected with and concerned in terrorism."

“… In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 11B(1)(a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 (XXVII of 1997), the federal government hereby orders 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," read the notification.

The interior ministry has sent notification to TLP leadership as well as to all authorities concerned.

The move follows a series of fierce demonstrations by the TLP that erupted earlier this month after police dismantled a protest camp in Muridke, leading to confrontations that resulted in the death of a police station house officer (SHO) and three others, including a passerby.

The recent development comes a day after the federal cabinet greenlighted ban on TLP under ATA following a request from the Punjab government, citing violent protests in the province that left several dead and many injured.

The summary was presented by the Ministry of Interior following a request from the Punjab government. Senior officials from Punjab also attended the meeting via video link.

The meeting was informed that the TLP was previously banned in 2021 by the then government. However, the ban was lifted after six months on the condition that the group would refrain from further violence and public disorder.

Govt to file reference against TLP in SC

Meanwhile, the interior ministry has initiated legal proceedings to file a reference in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on TLP under Article 17(2) and (3) of the Constitution, sources said on Friday.

The interior ministry will submit reference after consulting the Ministry of Law and the Attorney General.

Under Article 17(2) of the Constitution, a political party may be prohibited if it acts against the sovereignty, integrity, or security of Pakistan. The government, however, must send a reference to the top court within 15 days of announcing such a decision, and the ban does not take effect until the court upholds it.

'TLP's top leadership to be arrested soon'

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari has said that the top leadership of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has gone into hiding outside the province following the violent protests, assuring that they will be apprehended soon.

Speaking on Geo News' morning programme "Geo Pakistan", Azma said that according to available information, the group's senior leaders are currently outside Punjab and are adept at going underground to evade arrest.

"Law enforcement agencies are actively working on it, and you will soon receive good news," the information minister added.

"I would request that we not refer to this extremist group as a political party. They are not a party, but rather a mindset that we must collectively confront as a society."

She added, "It is neither a political nor a religious party; it has been operating like a project to collect watches and billions of rupees."

Azma said that it has been revealed that those conducting transactions in the name of religion have been earning interest on those payments. The provincial information minister said that whenever the TLP takes to the streets, it engages in "violence and attempts to disrupt law and order".

"They have a track record unlike any other group in this country, acting as a pressure group to dictate terms to the state," she said, and added, "Our leadership is convinced that now is the best time to correct past mistakes."