Formerly banned organization Tehreek-E-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) is on a surge after the release of its leader Saad Hossain Rizvi and revoking of its ban by the Imran Khan government. According to the International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS), there was a rather secret deal between TLP and the Imran Khan government reached on October 31 to end the latest round of protests. The deal was not made public and on November 7, Khan's cabinet revoked the declaration of the TLP as a banned group. The TLP benefitted mainly from the divisions between the PML-Nawaz government and the military establishment deep state', IFFRAS said, adding that Pakistan military establishment's effort to prop up different religious groups to deteriorate the PML-Nawaz government permitted the TLP to increase greater political space. Earlier, Rizvi was released on the eve of his father, Khadim Hussain Rizvi's death anniversary on November 19 who was the founder of TLP. Further, the TLP capable of mobilizing thousands of supporters was born in the year 2015 out of a remonstration movement to the Barelvi movement, according to the International Forum for Rights and Security. TLP has progressed from a movement into a party after Tehreek Rihai Mumtaz Qadr hanging in 2016. Source: ANI

A rally comprising thousands of workers of proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) entered Gujranwala city on Thursday afternoon. Some 4,000 TLP workers travelled on the Grand Truck Road in large trucks and buses along with their supplies, as stick-wielding activists of the group guarded the procession against all sides, the Dawn reported. The rally was expected to bypass Gujranwala city and continue its journey towards Islamabad after crossing the Qila Chand bypass. The TLP demonstrators have blocked the GT Road in Gujranwala district from both sides since Wednesday, causing hardships to the area residents in their commutes. From Kamoke tehsil to Jhelum, cellular services have been suspended for 24 hours, according to Dawn report. However, the procession continued on a straight path and has now reached Sheranwala Bagh in Gujranwala’s Old Town. The marchers are next expected to reach General Bus Stand via City Flyover. Meanwhile, rangers and police personnel took positions near the Chenab river and Wazirabad border. Security officials plan to stop the TLP activists near the Wazirabad-Chenab river area instead of Gujranwala city, police sources earlier said. Following several days of unsuccessful negotiations with the banned Islamist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), the Imran Khan government has decided to treat it as a “militant organisation.” This decision was made after a meeting of the country’s civil and military leadership, Dawn newspaper reported. Several clashes were reported near a highway, just outside Lahore, after TLP tried to resume its march on Islamabad to pressurise the government to accept its demands. At least four policemen were killed and over 250 injured during the clashes on Wednesday. Source: ANI BM

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Thursday barred TV channels and all other media outlets from covering any activity of the proscribed outfit Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), local media reported. Citing an official notification issued by the PEMRA, Geo News reported that the restriction has been imposed under the Electronic Media (Programmers and Advertisements) Code of Conduct, 2015, which prohibits covering proscribed organizations. "Ministry of Interior had declared the TLP as a proscribed organization for being engaged in act of terrorism [...] on April 15, 2021," read the statement. According to the statement, all satellite TV channels, FM radio stations and distribution services networks (cable TV operators and Internet Protocol television) have been directed to stop disseminating information about the proscribed outfit. Earlier in the day, the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing announced that it has launched an operation against the proscribed outlet's social media accounts, Geo News reported. According to the Pakistani publication, a statement issued by the FIA said that 12 people were arrested during the crackdown in Lahore, Faisalabad, Nankana Sahab, Islamabad, and other cities of Punjab. The statement said that "arrested individuals were involved in uploading hate-inciting material and doctored images on the internet through the proscribed organization’s social media handles." On Wednesday, Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad had directed the authorities concerned to launch a crackdown on the social media accounts of the proscribed outfit, Geo News reported. Source: ANI BM

Besides the record inflation and the widespread criticism by the opposition, a major problem the Imran Khan government faces is the ongoing protest by the proscribed Islamist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). A day after releasing 350 workers of the proscribed Islamist group, the Imran Khan government on Monday gave a green signal for unfreezing the accounts of TLP. The Imran Khan government is also working on a plan to release TLP's jailed chief Saad Rizvi. "Mentally, we should accept that it [TLP] is the third-largest party of Punjab and it has to do politics," Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said at a news conference on Monday afternoon. "We do not want any confrontation; we want to end this daily quarrel," Rashid was quoted as saying by Pakistan daily The Express Tribune. The minister revealed that the TLP's demands include its removal from the fourth schedule, their workers' release, and revoking the earlier decision of the federal cabinet that declared TLP a proscribed organisation. "We are sticking to our commitments," the minister said. According to vernacular media reports, Lal Masjid's Talibs are now out on roads in support of Tehreek Labbaik and violent confrontations have taken place in Lahore. Two activists from Tehreek Labbaik and two police officials have died there in the Lahore confrontation. These policemen, one head constable and one constable were run over. According to the news agency, the number of policemen dying in these confrontations was three. One video released from Tehreek Labbaik says several of its injured activists were still lying on roads of Lahore, most of them in critical condition. It is being claimed that several parts were reduced to a state of being battlefield after Friday prayers and life came to standstill because of disturbances which had also led to the suspension of mobile services in the city. Source: ANI

As violence by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan's (TLP) supporters continues to rage in Lahore and other cities, Pakistan's Punjab government has placed more than 100 clerics of the outlawed group on the list of terrorism and sectarianism suspects. A top official of the Punjab Home Department confirmed that the decision has been taken on the recommendation of the District Intelligence Committees. He said over 100 TLP clerics have been placed on the Fourth Schedule under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the News International reported. According to him, the number of Fourth Schedulers could be increased as the Home Department is receiving recommendations from all deputy commissioners of the province. Sources claimed that their assets have been frozen under the law and their national identity cards and bank accounts have been blocked. Additionally, their names would be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) by the Interior Ministry. The Fourth Schedule is a list on which suspects of terrorism and sectarianism are placed under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997. The names of Fourth Schedulers are referred to the local police and law-enforcement agencies for effective monitoring. If a Fourth Scheduler wants to move somewhere, he has to inform the nearby police station. The assets of the clerics would be probed by the Counterterrorism Department. Furthermore, the Home Department has asked to freeze all properties owned by the TLP. "After this letter, the TLP would not be able to sell properties including seminaries, agriculture land, etc," said the official. "Sealing of offices of the banned TLP would be decided by the Ministry of Interior," said the official, adding that all DCs have been directed to restrain the movement of TLP workers towards Islamabad. TLP has recently been banned by the Pakistan government after violent protests following the arrest of their chief Saad Hussain Rizvi in Lahore on April 12. TLP Pakistan is a hardline religious group with a massive following across Pakistan. Recently, clashes broke out between TLP supporters and law enforcers. On Sunday, the city of Lahore became a battleground as workers of the recently banned party and policemen clashed. TLP workers also took 11 policemen hostage, who were later released after the first round of talks with the government. The government is currently engaging in talks with the workers of the TLP after a clash with the police in Lahore on Sunday. The deadlock between the government and TLP over the ongoing protests across the country continued, as the banned party demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the expulsion of the French ambassador to Pakistan, and the immediate release of the party chief Syed Saad Hussain Rizvi as well as the workers.