The Home Office briefed the Cabinet on the activities of religious groups, later receiving orders to proceed with legal action
The federal cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, approved a ban on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan under Article 17 of the Constitution following a recommendation by the Punjab government.
The decision came during a cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Thursday to review law and order and the group’s recent activities. Cabinet members were briefed on Punjab’s proposal to ban the religious group during the meeting. The Home Office submitted a detailed report on TLP’s activities and later received formal instructions to proceed with the necessary legal steps.
The meeting, chaired 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, Defense Minister Khwaja Asif briefed the Cabinet on the details of the Afghan deal, while the members also approved decisions taken earlier by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Affairs.
Punjab suggested center to ban TLP
Last week, the Punjab government had recommended to the Center that a complete ban be imposed on the religious party, whose Gaza march was forcefully dispersed by the 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 brought before Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs).
The Punjab Police claimed that during the Muridke attack, TLP protesters resorted to violence resulting in the death of a Station House Officer (SHO). 48 police and Rangers personnel also sustained injuries during the clashes with 17 injured by gunshots. Three TLP workers and a bystander 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 the Palestinians. As police and protesters clashed, protesters set fire to dozens of vehicles.
After failed negotiations, the government moved to crack down and launched a six-hour operation at 3 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 wounded.
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 decided 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.
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 Speakers 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 religio-political movements in Pakistan in recent years. The party’s roots date back to 2015, when its founder, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, established it with the primary purpose of defending Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.
Khadim Hussain Rizvi, a fiery cleric known for his impassioned speeches delivered from a wheelchair, quickly gained popularity among Pakistan’s majority Sunni population. His strong speaking 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 changes related to the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat (Prophet’s final) oath and protecting the Ahmadi minority.
The Aasia Bibi case
In 2018, the TLP took to the streets again following the Supreme Court’s decision to acquit Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman accused of blasphemy. The nationwide protests that followed further cemented the TLP’s image as a powerful religious movement.
That same year, the TLP contested the 2018 general election and secured enough votes to become Pakistan’s fifth largest political party – a remarkable achievement for a newly founded movement.
Death of Khadim Rizvi
In November 2020, Khadim Hussain Rizvi made headlines with a statement threatening to reveal the establishment’s role in the 2017 Faizabad sit-in during his upcoming Friday sermon. But before he could deliver it, he fell ill – reportedly due to COVID-19 – and died on November 19, 2020.
After his death, his eldest son, Saad Hussain Rizvi, was chosen as the new Amir (chief) of the 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, the TLP expanded its political reach, especially in Punjab. According to a Gallup poll, the party secured 2.89 million votes in Punjab in 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, the TLP had received 2.2 million votes from Punjab in the 2018 elections, indicating a clear upward trend in public support during Saad Rizvi’s tenure.
Despite frequent controversies surrounding its protests and hard-line stances, the TLP continues to wield 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.
