Key points
- Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bokhari says summary of the ban has been forwarded to the federal government for final approval.
- Bokhari condemns misuse of religion for violence and praises CM Maryam Nawaz’s welfare projects.
- Earlier, Islamabad authorities seal TLP offices, mosques, and seminaries amid nationwide crackdown.
LAHORE: The government of Pakistan’s Punjab province has formally banned the hard-line group Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) after a fresh wave of violent protests left a police officer dead and hundreds injured.
Provincial Information Minister Azma Bokhari said on Friday that the provincial cabinet had approved the move and forwarded a summary to the federal government for final endorsement.
Bokhari said the decision reflected the province zero-tolerance stance on violent extremism, warning that “no one has the right to impose their ideology through violence.”
She condemned the group’s use of religion as a political tool, noting that the TLP’s latest demonstration, ostensibly in solidarity with Gaza, turned violent even after a ceasefire had been achieved through diplomatic efforts led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir.
The announcement came amid a nationwide crackdown on TLP offices, mosques, and seminaries, with Islamabad authorities sealing multiple facilities in the capital and surrounding areas. The ban, one of the toughest actions in recent years, marks a decisive effort by Punjab and federal authorities to curb religiously-motivated unrest and protect public order.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Bokhari said that while religious parties have always been part of Pakistan’s politics, “no one has the right to impose their ideology through violence.”
The minister said the state could no longer tolerate violent demonstrations that harm public life and government property, adding that some individuals misuse religion for personal gain and wealth.
READ ALSO: The Radical Turn: How TLP Redefined Pakistan’s Street Power
Rejecting claims that the government avoided talks with TLP, she clarified that discussions were held but focused on the group’s personal interests, not Palestine.
She said Friday’s call for protests was ignored by the public, as markets across Punjab remained open.
The minister condemned the violence that led to the death of a Punjab Police inspector, who was shot multiple times during the clashes. She said 1,648 policemen were injured, more than 50 left permanently disabled, and 97 police vehicles damaged, questioning how such destruction could be called a peaceful protest.
