The Federal Ministry of Interior has officially banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), declaring it a proscribed terrorist organization under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997. The notification states that the federal government believes TLP is involved in terrorism, and it has been added to the First Schedule of terrorist organizations. The final decision will be referred to the Supreme Court.
The Interior Ministry has issued the notification under the ATA, and copies have been sent to all relevant institutions. The government claims to have acted based on evidence linking TLP to terrorist activities. Copies of the notification have been forwarded to all provincial governors, chief secretaries, inspectors general of police, and intelligence agencies.
Agencies including NACTA, FIA, ISI, and MI have been instructed to take immediate action. The TLP’s bank accounts will be frozen, and the party will be barred from any political or social activity. Even using the party’s name publicly will be prohibited.
A reference will be sent to the Supreme Court for a final ruling. The federal cabinet had approved the Punjab government’s recommendation to ban TLP during a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister.
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Officials briefed the cabinet on TLP’s violent and terrorist activities, noting that since its formation in 2016, the group has incited unrest across the country. The government cited the group’s past violent protests that resulted in deaths of security personnel and civilians.
TLP was previously banned in 2021, but the ban was lifted six months later after the group pledged to abstain from violence—a commitment the government says has been violated.
The most recent unrest began on October 10, 2025, when TLP launched a protest march from Lahore in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and announced plans to protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. Police cracked down on demonstrators in Murīdke and Sādhoke, arresting several workers.
According to Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, police recovered marbles, harmful chemicals, sticks, tear gas shells, and firearms from protesters, questioning whether such materials could be part of a peaceful demonstration.
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Clashes in Murīdke left five people dead, including a police officer and TLP supporters. Protesters allegedly used nails-studded sticks, petrol bombs, and snatched police weapons. Several vehicles and shops were set ablaze, and 40 government and private vehicles were destroyed.
The Punjab cabinet had already recommended the ban on October 17, and following a federal cabinet review, the Interior Ministry formally declared TLP a proscribed organization under Section 11B(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act (1997).
The decision marks the second time in four years that TLP has been declared a banned organization by the Pakistani government.