DM Monitoring
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 ministry has sent the 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 interior ministry 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.
‘SC decision not required’
The government decided not to file a reference in the Supreme Court regarding the ban on the TLP, sources with the interior ministry told media.
The sources said that a top court decision is not required for imposing a ban under the ATA.
They added that the ban on the religio-political party has been imposed under the ATA, but not Article 17 of the Constitution.
