Ban on TLP: Asif says state won’t tolerate extremist groups

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ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said Pakistan should act as a “tough state” against extremist religious groups, pointing to violent protests by Tehreek-e-Libbaik Pakistan (TLP).

His statement comes days after the Punjab government sent a summary to the Center to ban the TLP, after violent protests in the province left many dead and scores injured.

Although the group was not named in official statements, the provincial government vowed that those involved in spreading violence, inciting hatred or causing public harm would be arrested and prosecuted under anti-terrorism laws.

Speaking to Geo News, Asif refused to comment on whether TLP was being banned.

“We have to be a tough state,” Asif said, adding that religious extremist groups, which resort to violence and cause damage to property, cannot be tolerated in Pakistan.

He said it was too late because such gangs had been formed and encouraged for decades, adding: “Everybody knows who created them and for what purpose.”

Asif asserted that henceforth, the state will work strictly according to law, rules and constitution.

The defense czar said he was unaware of Jamiat Ulema-e-Fazal (JOI-F) chief Maulana Fazlar Rehman’s statement that his workers were ready to march towards Islamabad.

He added that Fazal was “highly respectful” to him and declined to comment further.

The JOIF chief—once a close ally of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)—later turned into a vocal critic of the current government.

After the end of power of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2022, the parties led by Nawaz Sharif and Balwal Bhutto joined hands to form coalition governments twice.

After the 2024 general elections, Fazl rejected the formation of a coalition government, alleging widespread electoral fraud and irregularities.

TLP will be banned soon: Punjab Minister

Punjab Chief Minister Azma Bukhari said the decision of the provincial cabinet has been forwarded to the federal government, expressing hope that the ban on TLP would be implemented within a day or two.

Bukhari told a press conference, and he also hinted at tougher action against TLP’s financiers, and a special prosecution cell has been set up to prosecute Murdoch’s cases.

He further said that three pedestrians were martyred and 48 civilians were injured in this incident. He added that 110 policemen were also injured – 18 of them by firing.

He added that the full footage of all the attacks was recorded, including the attack on police videos in Shahdara, and an organized cell was set up to threaten politicians and journalists.

Bokhari said the state and government were implementing all decisions made regarding the TLP, noting that the group had falsely portrayed unrest as the cause of Palestine and Gaza. He further said that TLP’s propaganda cell is spreading lies online.

The minister said: “38 financiers who financed terrorist organizations were identified, and all their accounts were frozen.”

He warned that anyone who financed the TLP would face charges of terrorism.

He said that the action of the government was not against any sect, group or party but against extremist ideology. Bokhari also revealed that several TLP mosques were taken under government control and hundreds of seminaries were geo-tagged.

He said that 33 cases of terrorism have been registered and all the named suspects will be arrested.

“Saad Rizvi and his brother are being traced and they will be arrested soon,” he said, adding that investigation was also on for those who sheltered them.

Bukhari revealed that 95 bank accounts with both legal and illegal properties have been sealed in Saad’s name.

Bokhari asserted that the government is not thinking about vote banks or elections but is ensuring judicial action against the extremist group.