Punjab Cabinet approves TLP ban, sends summary to Center for action

The Punjab government has approved imposing a ban on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan and forwarded a summary to the federal government for further action. It was announced by Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari while addressing a press conference in Lahore on Friday.

She revealed that the Punjab cabinet has approved the ban on TLP and sent the matter to the federal government for implementation. “Misuse of loudspeakers will now be strictly controlled under the Loudspeakers Act,” she added.

The Information Minister said that the government and the state have now decided to act firmly with the group. Using the name of the religion, they built properties worth millions of rupees. Petrol pumps, luxury watches and large sums of money have been recovered from them.

Azma said that despite repeated offers of dialogue, TLP leaders chose confrontation instead of negotiation. “How does burning private vehicles and attacking police officers help the people of Gaza?” she asked.

Giving details of the latest violence, she said 200 policemen were injured, 17 vehicles were damaged and two completely burnt. “One inspector was martyred, one officer was shot in the arm and another in the throat – he will never speak again,” she said.

The minister also confirmed that Section 144 has been imposed across Punjab to prevent further unrest. “We will register cases under the PECA Act for arson and vandalism. Bank and social media accounts of those involved have been frozen and there is a complete ban on carrying arms,” ​​she added.

Azma urged citizens to hand over illegal firearms to the police, warning that failure to do so would result in terrorism charges. “Loudspeakers may only be used for sermons or religious speeches – not for exhortation,” she said.

Read more: TLP management for face music: Naqvi

She thanked traders, transporters and the public for rejecting the strike call by the religious group. She said there was “no justification for such protests” and the government would not allow any group to paralyze the country under any pretext.

“Those demanding the release of prisoners should know that their demands never even mentioned Palestine. The world appreciates Pakistan’s role in supporting the Gaza ceasefire, yet these protests were called after the peace agreement. This was not a peaceful movement,” she said, asking, “What was the fault of the martyred SHO?”

The Punjab Information Minister emphasized that the Punjab government’s decisions were not directed against any religious party but were taken to maintain law and order. “No one will be allowed to deprive citizens of their basic rights,” she said.