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Antiterrorism measures

Pakistan Bans Extremist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Party Amid Violent Protests

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Pakistan's cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to ban the extremist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party under the country's Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) after it recently staged violent protests in the country. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which discussed the Punjab government's request to outlaw the religious group under the ATA of 1997. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement that the cabinet "unanimously" approved the ban. As per the PTI report, Pakistan's interior ministry presented a summary of the Punjab government's request and briefed the meeting on the "violent and terrorist activities of TLP in the country."

Key Takeaways:

  • The cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, decided to ban the TLP party under the ATA of 1997 after considering the Punjab government's request.
  • The TLP party, established in 2016, has been involved in violent and terrorist activities across the country, resulting in incidents of violence and deaths.
  • The party was previously banned in 2021 but the ban was lifted after six months on the condition that it would not carry out unrest or violent activities.
  • The TLP has a history of violent protests since 2017, including laying siege to Islamabad and staging violent protests in different parts of the country.
  • Over 6,000 TLP activists have been arrested by the Punjab police, and 61 seminaries run by the party have been sealed.

Statistics:

  • 16 people, including policemen, were killed and over 1,600 injured in clashes between police and TLP supporters at Muridke.
  • 107 social media activists of TLP were arrested by Pakistan's anti-cybercrime agency for inflammatory posts, and 75 of their social media accounts were blocked.
  • 6,000 TLP activists have been arrested by the Punjab police.
  • 61 seminaries run by the TLP party have been sealed.
  • The TLP party was previously banned in 2021 but the ban was lifted after six months.

Sources:

  • PTI News Agency
  • Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
  • Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari

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