Federal cabinet approves ban on TLP over violent protests

The federal cabinet on Thursday approved a summary seeking a ban on the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) under the anti-terrorism law.

The ban came after three days of violent protests by the politic-religious group which had paralyzed the country.

Three policemen died and scores of others were wounded during mob violence by the armed TLP’s supporters.

The government will present the declaration of the ban in the Supreme Court, Geo News reported.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will subsequently denotify the TLP on orders of the apex court.  All elected members of the TLP will be automatically disqualified after the ECP denotifies the party.

In a major development on Wednesday, after days of violence across the country in which three people lost their lives, including two policemen, the federal government decided to ban the TLP.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad a day earlier, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had said the ban on TLP will be placed under Section 11-B of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, on the recommendation of the Punjab government, and added that a summary for the ban has been moved to the federal cabinet.

“Today we have decided to ban TLP and we will get the approval of the cabinet,” the interior minister said.

He said several rounds of talks were held with TLP leaders, however, the party remained stuck to its stance. He said on the one hand they were talking, and on the other directing their workers to prepare for a march on Islamabad, with full force.