ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The federal cabinet on Thursday unanimously approved a ban on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) under the Anti-Terrorism Act, following recent violent protests.
According to the press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after the interior minister presented the summary on the Punjab government’s request to ban the party.
It added that the cabinet was briefed on the violent and terrorist activities of TLP in the country. The meeting was informed that this organisation, established in 2016, has incited violence across the country.
“Due to the organisation, incidents of violence have occurred in different parts of the country,” it added.
It pointed out that the TLP was banned in 2021 as well, which was lifted after 6 months on the condition that unrest and violent activities would not be carried out by the party in the future, adding that a reason for the current ban on the organisation was also the reneging on the guarantees given in 2021.
“In the past, security personnel and innocent passersby were killed in violent protest meetings and rallies of the TLP,” the cabinet meeting was informed.
“The federal cabinet, after a briefing and the recommendation of the Punjab government, unanimously concluded that the TLP is involved in terrorism and violent acts,” the press release stated.
Senior officers of the Punjab government also attended the meeting via video link.
