LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari announced today that the provincial government has formally forwarded a summary to the federal government seeking a ban on the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), following violent protests earlier this week.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Bokhari confirmed that the Punjab cabinet had approved the move, fulfilling the legal provincial requirement. “The summary has now been sent to the Centre for action,” she said.
The development follows a recent TLP-led protest march in solidarity with Gaza, which aimed to reach Islamabad and stage a demonstration outside the US Embassy. However, the protest was disrupted by a pre-dawn law enforcement operation in Muridke on Monday, leading to violent clashes, arrests, and the premature end of the march.
Without naming the TLP initially, Bokhari criticised the protest, saying it turned "bloody as always" despite a ceasefire in Gaza. “This group has repeatedly paralysed life — in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2022,” she stated, adding that the state could no longer allow such disruptions.
She rejected claims that the government failed to negotiate with protesters, saying multiple engagement attempts were made. “They were told people in Gaza were celebrating a truce, yet they attacked police and torched vehicles,” Bokhari said.
Referring to Friday’s protest call by TLP and a separate religious group, she praised traders and the public for rejecting the demonstrations. Bokhari played videos of normalcy in Lahore and Rawalpindi to support her claim.
Highlighting the toll of the unrest, she said 1,648 policemen were injured, including 202 severely. “Was it a peaceful protest then?” she asked.
Bokhari clarified the crackdown was not against any religious group but specifically against a party with a history of violence and incitement. She announced additional measures, including placing TLP leaders on the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, cracking down on hate speech, monitoring social media, and banning the public display of weapons.
The federal government previously banned TLP in 2021, but the ban was lifted later that year after negotiations. This time, Bokhari said, the state is determined to ensure such extremist actions are not repeated.
