Supporters of the banned Islamist political party TLP chant slogans during a protest rally in Lahore, Pakistan, October 22, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS
With the federal cabinet’s approval of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s ban, the party is likely to become the 83rd political or religious organization, armed group or welfare body to be declared a banned entity in Pakistan in the last 25 years.
The then PTI government also imposed a ban on TLP in 2021, but it was lifted after six months on the condition that the group refrain from violent or subversive acts.
Can TLP really be banned?
Under Article 11-B(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, any political or religious group or organization found involved in criminal or terrorist activities may be declared prohibited. The process is carried out by the Ministry of the Interior with the approval of the provincial governments and the national assembly.
History of forbidden costumes.
The crackdown on extremist and sectarian organizations began in 2001, when Pakistan faced a rise in sectarian terrorism. The first banned groups were Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Muhammad.
In 2002, the process was accelerated with the banning of several jihadist organisations, including Jaish-e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Sipah-e-Sahaba, Tehreek-e-Jafaria Pakistan, Tehreek-e-Islami and Tehreek Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi, effectively outlawing their activities in the whole country.
In 2003, new measures were taken against Al-Qaeda, Jamaat-ul-Furqan, Hizb-ut-Tahrir and Jamaat-ul-Ansar.
Rebranding of banned organizations
Several previously banned groups re-emerged under new names: Sipah-e-Sahaba became Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan, Tehreek-e-Jafaria was renamed Islami Tehreek Pakistan and Jaish-e-Muhammad re-emerged as Khuddam-ul-Islam. The government subsequently banned these rebranded entities again.
In 2006, escalating militant activity in Balochistan led to the banning of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Between 2006 and 2010, the insurgency intensified, prompting the government to ban additional separatist and militant groups, including the Baloch Republican Army (BRA), the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), Lashkar-e-Balochistan (LeB), the Baloch United Liberation Front (BLUF), and the Baloch Musallah Defa Tanzeem (BMDC).
Outlawed entities from left to right
Each year, new organizations are added to the list of prohibited entities based on provincial recommendations, intelligence reports, and sometimes advisories from the U.S. Department of State.
Since 2000 to date, the Pakistani government has banned 82 organizations.
In 2024, Zainabiyoun Brigade (ZB), Balochistan Majeed Brigade (MB), Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group and Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) were the latest additions to the list of banned organisations.
Political parties have also faced restrictions since the creation of Pakistan.
The Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP), led by Sajjad Zaheer, was the first political party banned in 1954. Later, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League was banned in 1971, followed by Khan Abdul Wali Khan’s National Awami Party (NAP) in 1975.
