Cabinet approves ban on TLP under anti-terrorism act

According to sources, the approval from federal cabinet to was taken through a circulation summary which was sent to them by the interior ministry.

Interior Ministry prepared the summary under Rule 11B of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Section 11B of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 empowers the federal government to declare an organization banned.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Imran Khan gave a green signal to a summary sent by the Ministry of Interior seeking a ban on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) following violent protests across the country.

The development came after Interior Minister Shaikh Rasheed announced that the government of Pakistan has decided to ban Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

While addressing a presser, the interior minister said that the decision has been taken under the anti-terror law on the request of the Punjab government

“Considering the recent violent activities including abduction of policemen and destroying of public property, the government decided to ban TLP under Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, (11) B,” he said.

Sheikh Rasheed further stated that at two police officers were martyred while more than 300 suffered injuries as a result of protests by TLP.

“The TLP members also held several police officers as hostage in order to pressurize government,” he said adding that no case registered against TLP men will be taken back. A detailed summary will be forwarded to the federal cabinet to ban the party,” he said.

On Monday, the demonstrations were sparked by the arrest of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) leader Saad Rizvi in Lahore on unspecified charges.

The protestors blocked several roads of major cities including Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi causing massive jams. Clashes between police and demonstrators were also reported from Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and several other cities where police officials fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse the protesters, who fought back in some places by pelting stones at police officers.

Injuries to protesters and police officers were also reported from several cities.

Most highways, which were blocked earlier, had reopened on Tuesday, although limited road closures continued to affect the capital Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi.