Federal cabinet approves ban on TLP under PM Shehbaz’s chairmanship

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has approved a ban on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) under the “Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.”

According to sources, the cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where a summary recommending the ban on TLP was included in the agenda. After a detailed review, the cabinet approved the move to outlaw the group under Section 11B(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

It is worth mentioning that the Punjab government had earlier sent a recommendation to the federal government to impose the ban. The PTI government had also banned TLP in 2021, but that decision was reversed seven months later.

Earlier, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said that a decision to ban Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) was expected soon after violent protests and property damage in Punjab.

She said that while “TLP activists were roaming freely and creating panic among citizens,” the government had now decided to act firmly to restore peace.

Bukhari accused TLP workers of “vandalising public and private property, looting shops, and even snatching vehicles from citizens” during the recent protests. “The so-called spoils of war they collected are known to everyone,” she remarked, adding that their actions had disturbed peace and security in Punjab.

Police in Muridke also registered “three more FIRs against TLP chief Hafiz Saad Rizvi, his brother Anas Rizvi, members of the party’s consultative council, and several protesters” for attempting to enter Islamabad during the October protests.

She confirmed that “Section 144 remains enforced across the province,” making all unauthorised public gatherings illegal. “Those found carrying unlicensed weapons or organising armed groups would face strict action,” she warned. “No one will be allowed to challenge the writ of the state,” she added.

Bukhari also said that the government has intensified its crackdown on illegal arms, with “28 arms dealers’ licenses cancelled and several unlicensed shops sealed.”

She added, “Over one million people in Punjab currently hold weapons, and more than 42,000 licenses are registered under various institutions,” confirming that no new licences will be issued for now.

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