ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s federal cabinet has officially banned the hardline Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), following weeks of violent protests and alarming security breaches in Punjab.
The decision comes after the provincial government, led by Minister Dr. Yasmin Bokhari, compiled evidence showing the party’s repeated acts of violence, weapons stockpiling, and extremist activities. Authorities revealed that during TLP’s recent protest march, activists snatched firearms, tear gas, and anti-riot gear from police, vandalized vehicles, and even damaged Safe City surveillance cameras, causing widespread panic and disruption.
Investigations have uncovered shocking details about the party’s financial and material resources. At the residence of party chief Saad Rizvi, authorities seized gold, silver, rare watches, and properties bought under anonymous names. TLP-linked mosques and seminaries have been taken under government control to prevent them from becoming hubs of radicalization, while 95 bank accounts linked to Rizvi have been frozen. Dr. Bokhari stressed that this is not a crackdown on any religious group, but a decisive action against extremist ideology threatening public safety and governance.
The ban follows the TLP’s October 11–13 protest march in Punjab, which aimed to reach Islamabad and protest outside the US embassy. Law enforcement dismantled the protest camp in Muridke after violent clashes, confirming that Rizvi and his brother fled to Azad Jammu and Kashmir. During the protest, roads were blocked, businesses were forced to close, and clashes with police created chaos, prompting swift government action. In addition to targeting the party directly, authorities have taken broad security measures across the province: no new weapons licenses will be issued, illegal residents including undocumented Afghan refugees will be repatriated, and “dala culture” or strike threats will be prosecuted under terrorism laws.
The government has also gone after TLP’s financial network, identifying 3,800 party financiers and blocking their funding sources. Individuals providing political or monetary support now face terrorism charges. Dr. Bokhari warned, “The era of extremist mobs controlling streets is over. Peace and the rule of law will prevail.” With its leadership fleeing and resources frozen, the TLP now faces an uncertain future, as the federal and provincial governments move decisively to crush extremism and secure public safety.
