The Punjab government has announced plans to recommend a ban on the religiopolitical party Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) following violent clashes with police in Muridke earlier this week. The confrontation, triggered by TLP’s so-called “Gaza solidarity” march to Islamabad, resulted in 2,716 arrests and over 70 criminal cases, including 39 in Lahore alone.
Authorities cited TLP’s recurring record of violent protests, attacks on law enforcers, and vandalism of minority worship sites as grounds for the move. The decision, discussed in high-level meetings, mirrors earlier crackdowns when the group was briefly banned in 2021 under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
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Under Article 17(2) of the Constitution, the federal government can refer a provincial ban request to the Supreme Court if a party is deemed prejudicial to Pakistan’s sovereignty or integrity. The Supreme Court has the final authority to uphold or reject the ban. Past attempts to outlaw parties, such as PTI and PTM, often failed due to constitutional protections for political participation.
TLP’s renewed confrontation highlights the state’s challenge of balancing law enforcement with political freedoms. While proscribing extremist groups remains a constitutional option, history shows that sustainable peace depends more on political engagement and social reform than repetitive bans.
