The Punjab government suspends the licenses of 28 arms dealers, while the shops of several unlicensed dealers are closed.
ISLAMABAD:
Backing a request by the Punjab government, the federal government on Thursday banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), declaring it a proscribed organization under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The decision, made during a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, came after deadly clashes during recent anti-Israel protests near Lahore that left several people dead.
According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office, the federal cabinet approved the ban “unanimously.”
During the meeting, the Ministry of Home Affairs presented a summary based on the recommendation of the Punjab government, which was joined by senior provincial officials via video link.
The cabinet was briefed on the TLP’s violent and terrorist activities across the country. Officials informed the meeting that since its creation in 2016, the group has been involved in multiple incidents of unrest and violence, causing widespread unrest and loss of life.
It was recalled that in 2021, the then government had also banned the TLP, but the decision was revoked six months later following the group’s assurances that it would refrain from violence and disorder.
However, the cabinet was informed that the TLP had once again violated those commitments by resorting to violence and incitement. The report noted that the group’s previous protests and rallies had led to the deaths of both security personnel and civilians.
After reviewing the Punjab report and recommendations, the federal cabinet unanimously concluded that the TLP was involved in terrorism and violent activities and therefore declared it a proscribed organization under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Earlier in the day, Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari outlined the Punjab government’s recent law and order measures following a TLP protest earlier this month.
He said the government had suspended the licenses of 28 arms dealers, while the shops of several unlicensed dealers had been closed.
“There is a zero tolerance policy on the purchase and sale of arms and as I said earlier, no license for arms will be issued in Punjab now,” he added.
The minister also stated that currently more than one million people in the province have gun licenses. “In a province where so many people are licensed to carry weapons, one can imagine how difficult it is to keep the peace,” he said.
He added that 47,918 security companies in Punjab hold arms licences, while various institutions collectively hold over 42,000 licences.
Bokhari also shared details of arms and ammunition allegedly recovered from people associated with the TLP. Showing related images on a screen, he said TLP protesters had confiscated weapons, ammunition and other items from police during previous demonstrations.
“This is their modus operandi. They surround the police, snatch vehicles, weapons and tear gas guns and use them later.
“In 2021 [protest]”They stole 3,498 tear gas grenades, 23 tear gas guns, 326 riot gear, two 12-caliber pistols and 11 submachine guns,” he said. Pointing to one of the images on the screen, he added that they matched the bullets that were fired at the police during the recent TLP protest.
According to Bokhari, TLP activists damaged eight police vehicles and stole a submachine gun, two 12-gauge pistols and 945 bullets during their recent protest. In addition, the minister stated that the protesters had seized 197 helmets, 22 kits, 130 “safety sheets”, a tear gas gun and 984 tear gas grenades, all part of the riot equipment.
They even damaged Safe City’s cameras, Bokhari added.
He further said that a special cell of the prosecution was working on cases related to the TLP, in which 559 suspects had been sent to preventive detention. Of them, 161 were sent to prison and 190 are in judicial preventive detention, he added.
Regarding actions taken regarding social media posts, he said a total of “75 links” had been blocked for sharing hate and incitement material and that 107 people had been arrested.
Bokhari further said that citizens could give tips to the police about “the extremist party” and “illegal citizens, whether they are Afghans or anyone else”, by calling the 15-police helpline. Their calls would be transferred to a special cell and the names of the informants would be kept secret, he said.
He stressed that “Dala culture” would not be tolerated either.
“Calling a strike and forcing the closure of shops, businesses and transport is totally unacceptable. Cases will be registered under terrorism laws [against those involved]”, he further warned.
Bokhari also emphasized that publishing posters, pamphlets, brands or any other type of advertising of “extremist mobs” was prohibited throughout the province.
Regarding Afghan refugees, he said search operations had been launched to identify those who lacked the necessary documents, who would then be transferred to centers established at the district level. They would then be sent back to their country in a respectful manner.
This would also apply to other people residing “illegally” in Punjab, he said, adding that “information is being collected on illegal citizens doing business in Punjab so that they can also be repatriated.”
In this regard, the Minister warned that renting properties to “illegal citizens” or allowing them to stay in their own residence is a crime and action will be taken in this regard. “The Punjab government has taken a decision in this regard and is implementing it.”
He also said that the Punjab government had requested the Center to regularize arms factories.
