Notification to ban TLP will be issued shortly: Sheikh Rasheed

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed on Thursday said that notification to ban Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) would be issued shortly.

Addressing a joint presser along with Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri, giving policy statement on protests by religious party, Sheikh Rasheed said that a separate summary would be sent to the cabinet for dissolution of the TLP through a reference in the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday.

He further said that he and Noorul Haq Qadri laud the sacrifices rendered by the police and Rangers across Pakistan in bringing stability to the situation which erupted after the arrest of the TLP chief Saad Rizvi.

"They were adamant on coming [at the Faizabad Interchange] for the fourth time," he said. "This is why we took decisions to prevent all that."

Earlier today, a meeting was chaired by PM Imran Khan, comprising federal ministers Sheikh Rasheed, Noorul Haq Qadri, Fawad Chaudhry and others took place.

Participants of the meeting discussed the consequences that may arise after the government earlier imposed a ban on the religious party. It was decided that a policy statement on the religious party and its protests will be issued in the evening.

Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter to announce that Sheikh Rasheed and Religious Affairs Minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri will hold a press conference at 4:15pm to issue the policy statement.

The federal cabinet approved a ban on the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP). Sources said that the approval had been sought through a circulation summary under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had approved a summary to ban the TLP. After the cabinet approval, the federal government will issue the declaration of a ban on the Tehreek-e-Labaik. The ban declaration will be presented in the Supreme Court.

If the SC ruled, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will de-notify the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan. After the ECP de-notification, the TLP MPs will stand disqualified.

According to sources, two policemen were martyred and 580 injured in violent activities by Tehreek-e-Labaik. About 30 vehicles of the law-enforcement agencies were damaged.

In total, 2,063 workers of the TLP were arrested across the country. As many as 115 cases have been registered.