The notification says the federal government has reasonable grounds to believe the party has links to terrorism
Supporters of the banned Islamist political party TLP chant slogans during a protest rally in Lahore, Pakistan October 22, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS
The Ministry of Interior has issued a notification regarding the ban on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), stating that the federal government has “reasonable grounds to believe that the TLP is linked and involved in terrorism”.
The notification, issued on Friday under Section 11B (1)(a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, states that the Federal Government directs the TLP to become a prohibited organization for the purposes of the Act and lists the above-mentioned organization in the First Schedule to the said Act.
The federal cabinet on Thursday unanimously approved banning the TLP under the Anti-Terrorism Act, following a request from the Punjab government citing the group’s violent and extremist activities.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. The Interior Ministry presented a summary recommending the ban after receiving formal approval from Punjab authorities. Senior officials from Punjab joined the session via video link.
“Since 2016, this organization has fueled nationwide unrest,” the statement said, adding that past violent protests had led to the deaths of security personnel and innocent bystanders.
The government banned the TLP under the ATA, not the Electoral Act/Article 17 of the Constitution.
There is no indication yet that the government is also planning to dissolve the TLP as a political party by making a declaration under the Election Act/Section 17 and referring the matter to the SC. pic.twitter.com/vYuLGXpfSU
–Reema Omer (@reema_omer) October 24, 2025
This is the second time the group has been banned. The first ban was implemented on April 15, 2021 under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and later revoked on November 7 of the same year.
Under Article 17 of the Constitution, citizens have the right to form political parties. However, under clause (2) of the article, a political party can be banned if it is found to be financed by foreign funds or considered a threat to national security. The federal cabinet has the power to approve such a ban on these grounds.
Following the government’s statement, the Ministry of the Interior is required to file an appeal with the Supreme Court within 15 days. The decision of the Supreme Court on this referral will be final.
If the court confirms the government’s reference, the political party will be formally declared banned. Once banned, all public representatives belonging to that party will have their membership immediately suspended.
Read: Federal cabinet bans TLP at Punjab’s request after violent protests in Muridke
Last week, the Punjab government had recommended to the Center that a total ban be imposed on the religious party, whose march in Gaza was forcibly 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 policemen and destruction of public property, would be tried in Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATC).
The Punjab Police claimed that during the Muridke crackdown, TLP protesters resorted to violence which led to the death of a station house officer (SHO), while 48 policemen and Rangers personnel were injured in the clashes, including 17 by gunshot wounds. During the violence and clashes, three TLP workers and a bystander also lost their lives, while at least 30 civilians were injured.
Learn more: Can TLP really be banned?
The TLP had planned to march to Islamabad to protest in front of the US embassy in solidarity with the Palestinians. As police and protesters clashed, demonstrators set numerous vehicles on fire.
After negotiations failed, the government took repressive measures, launching a six-hour operation in Muridke to disperse the protesters. This led to mass arrests, with the TLP claiming the deaths of several workers, including conflicting reports that party leader Saad Rizvi was shot and injured.
In view of the violence, the meeting decided to bring the TLP leadership under the Fourth Schedule of the ATA. He decided to hand over all the party’s properties and assets to the Auqaf department and impose a complete ban on its posters, banners and advertisements.
It was also decided that all social media accounts of the TLP would also be blocked, the party’s bank accounts would be frozen and strict action would be taken in case of violation of the loudspeakers law.
