Govt decides to ban TLP under anti-terrorism law

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to ban Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) under anti-terrorism law, said Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Wednesday after the religious party rioted across the country for the past two days, causing millions in damages.

TLP protests have caused widespread disruption across major cities, including Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Karachi for the past two days after their chief Saad Hussain Rizvi was arrested in Lahore before the party’s April 20 deadline to send the French ambassador home.

Federal Minister Sheikh Rashid said that the decision to ban TLP has been taken at the request of the Punjab government and a “summary has been forwarded to the federal cabinet for approval.” after all efforts to convince the party to come to a resolution had failed.

Rashid also stated that the protestors had disrupted supply of oxygen cylinders to hospitals which was critical for patients suffering from COVID-19. The federal minister said that all FIRs filed against protestors had been done in accordance with the law.