ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government on Friday formally declared the far-right Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) a proscribed organisation under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, a day after the federal cabinet approved the move on the Interior Ministry’s recommendation.
According to the official notification issued by the Ministry of Interior, the government said there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that the group was “connected with or concerned in terrorism.”
The notification added that the TLP has been included in the First Schedule of the Act — a list that designates banned entities in Pakistan.
Officials said the decision was made under Section 11B(1)(a) of the ATA, which empowers the government to ban any organisation found to be preparing for or promoting terrorism.
According to the notification, the TLP would be listed in the First Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, the official register that enumerates all banned or outlawed organisations under Pakistani law.
The move came after intelligence and security assessments linked the group to violent protests and attacks on law enforcement personnel.
Wider Crackdown Under Anti-Terror Law
The Interior Ministry circulated copies of the notification to all relevant agencies, including the State Bank of Pakistan, NACTA, provincial police chiefs, and security agencies, directing immediate enforcement of the ban. The Election Commission of Pakistan was also notified, as proscribed organisations cannot engage in political activity or contest elections.
Officials said the proscription aligns with Pakistan’s National Action Plan (NAP) and ongoing counterterrorism commitments under international financial oversight frameworks.
Once listed under the ATA’s First Schedule, a banned organisation’s offices, funding channels, and public representation become illegal, while all its assets are subject to freezing under Section 11O of the same law.
Background: Repeat Offender
Thursday’s cabinet decision followed a detailed briefing by the Interior Ministry and the Punjab government, which accused the TLP of instigating repeated episodes of violence and disruption across major cities.
TLP, which follows the Barelvi school of Sunni Islam, was originally founded in 2015 by cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi, the father of the current leader, Saad Rizvi.
The party was previously banned in 2021 for violent demonstrations but was later reinstated after it pledged to refrain from unrest — a commitment authorities now say it failed to honour.
Authorities said that once a group’s name is added to this schedule, it is legally considered a banned organisation in Pakistan.
- Cannot hold public gatherings or processions.
- Cannot operate offices, collect funds, or recruit members.
- Have their bank accounts frozen by the State Bank of Pakistan and other financial institutions.
Are barred from using public or media platforms for advocacy or publicity.
According to law, once an organisation is banned under Section 11B, its activities are treated as criminal offences, and all related assets and accounts may be seized under Section 11O.
Security analysts note that the reimposition of the ban marks a renewed effort by Islamabad to curb extremist political movements that exploit religious sentiment to incite violence.
