Interior ministry briefed cabinet on religious group’s activities, later received orders to proceed with legal steps
Federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, approved a ban on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan under Article 17 of the Constitution, following a recommendation from the Punjab government.
The decision came during a cabinet meeting held in Islamabad on Thursday to review law and order and the group’s recent activities. Cabinet members were briefed on Punjab’s proposal to outlaw the religious group during the meeting. The Interior Ministry presented a detailed report on TLP’s activities and later received formal instructions to proceed with the necessary legal steps.
The meeting, presided over by the prime minister, also reviewed the country’s economic and political situation and discussed developments following the recent ceasefire agreement with Afghanistan.
During the session, the Defence Minister Khwaja Asif briefed the cabinet on the details of the Afghan agreement, while members also endorsed decisions taken earlier by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Affairs.
Punjab proposed centre to ban TLP
Last week, Punjab government had recommend to the Centre that a complete ban be imposed on the religious party, whose Gaza March was forcefully dispersed by authorities on October 13 in Muridke.
In a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, it was agreed that TLP leaders and workers involved in the death of police officers and destruction of public property will be tried in anti-terrorism courts (ATCs).
The Punjab Police claimed that during the Muridke crackdown, the TLP protesters resorted to violence that resulted in the death of one station house officer (SHO). Forty-eight police and Rangers personnel also sustained injuries during the clashes with 17 wounded by gunfire. Three TLP workers and one passerby also lost their lives, while at least 30 civilians were injured.
The TLP had planned to march to Islamabad to protest outside the US Embassy in a show of solidarity with Palestinians. As police and protesters clashed, demonstrators set fire to scores of vehicles.
Following failed negotiations, the government moved to crack down, launching a six-hour operation at 3 am in Muridke to disperse the protest. This led to mass arrests, with the TLP claiming the deaths of several workers, including conflicting reports that party chief Saad Rizvi had been shot and injured.
In view of the violence, the meeting decided to place the TLP leadership under the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997. It resolved to hand over all properties and assets of the party to the Auqaf Department and impose a complete ban on its posters, banners, and advertisements.
The TLP’s social media accounts will also be blocked. All bank accounts of the party will be frozen and strict action will be taken for any violation of the Loudspeaker Act.
TLP: From Khadim Rizvi’s legacy to Saad Rizvi’s Rise
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has emerged as one of the most prominent religious-political movements in Pakistan in recent years. The party’s roots trace back to 2015, when its founder, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, established it with the primary aim of defending Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.
Khadim Hussain Rizvi, a fiery cleric known for his passionate speeches delivered from a wheelchair, quickly gained popularity among Pakistan’s majority Sunni population. His strong oratory skills and uncompromising stance on religious issues made him a central figure in the country’s religious politics.
In November 2017, Rizvi led a long march from Lahore to Islamabad, culminating in the Faizabad sit-in near Rawalpindi. The protest targeted the then Pakistan Muslim League (N) government and its law minister, accusing them of introducing controversial amendments related to the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat (Finality of Prophethood) oath and of protecting the Ahmadi minority.
The Aasia Bibi case
In 2018, TLP again took to the streets following the Supreme Court’s decision to acquit Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman accused of blasphemy. The nationwide protests that followed further cemented TLP’s image as a powerful religious movement.
The same year, TLP contested the 2018 general elections, securing enough votes to become Pakistan’s fifth-largest political party — a remarkable achievement for a newly formed movement.
Death of Khadim Rizvi
In November 2020, Khadim Hussain Rizvi made headlines with a statement in which he threatened to reveal the establishment’s role in the 2017 Faizabad sit-in during his upcoming Friday sermon. However, before he could deliver it, he fell ill — reportedly due to COVID-19 — and passed away on November 19, 2020.
Following his death, his elder son, Saad Hussain Rizvi, was chosen as the new Amir (chief) of TLP. Saad received his early education at his father’s seminary and quickly gained recognition for continuing his father’s mission with renewed organizational discipline and strategy.
Saad Rizvi and TLP’s growing political base
Under Saad Rizvi’s leadership, TLP expanded its political reach, particularly in Punjab. According to a Gallup survey, the party secured 2.89 million votes in Punjab during the 2024 general elections, making it the third-largest political party in the province. However, the survey also indicated a decline in TLP’s vote bank in Sindh.
In comparison, TLP had received 2.2 million votes from Punjab in the 2018 elections, suggesting a clear upward trend in public support during Saad Rizvi’s tenure.
Despite frequent controversies surrounding its protests and hardline stance, TLP continues to command significant influence in Pakistan’s religious and political landscape. Whether Saad Rizvi can transform the movement from a street protest force into a sustainable political entity remains to be seen — but the party’s growing vote share indicates its deep and lasting impact on Pakistani politics.
