The agreement between the government and Tehreek e Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) is lauded by many in the country as the agreement has possibly saved the country from bloodshed.
The decision by the Imran Khan led-government to give a major relief to the previously proscribed organization Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) from the First Schedule has also spread concerns over the precedent being set by the government has prompted other banned outfits to demand the same relief.
The government’s agreement on the terms has resulted in the immediate removal of TLP’s name as a proscribed outfit, while hundreds of the group’s members have also been released from different Pakistani jails.
On the other hand, this move of the Imran Khan government has put a question mark on the status of over 70 organizations banned by the government of Pakistan due to their anti-Pakistan activities.
Meanwhile, following the removal of the proscription of Tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) and the Shia Ulema Council (SUC) have demanded the lifting of the ban on Sipah-i-Sahaba and Tehrik-e-Jafria Pakistan (TJP), respectively.
In a statement, issued on Monday, Allama Aurangzeb Farooqi of the ASWJ demanded the government remove the proscription status of Sipah-i-Sahaba. “We will be compelled to protest if the government fails to accept our demand,” Farooqi said.
Separately, noted Shia clerics demanded that the ban on TJP should also be lifted like the TLP, in accordance with the Supreme Court order, issued in Nov 2016.
Addressing a meeting, Shia Ulema Council (SUC) North Punjab President Allama Sibtain Haider Sabzwari demanded the government issue a notification for restoration of the TJP in the light of a decision of Justice Zaheer Jamali of the Supreme Court.
He alleged that the government was committing contempt of court by violating the SC order, besides committing duplicity and hypocrisy as it had restored the TLP, though it was accused of carrying out anti-state activities, violence, killing of police personnel, getting financial aid from India, etc.
He said the government was now engaged in talks with the TTP, which was involved in terrorism, subversion, violence and bomb blasts, killing of personnel of police, armed forces, and citizens.
Sabzwari wondered if the state only understands the language of violence, as the TLP took to the streets after their leaders were not released, protested by blocking roads, attacked policemen, and then the government surrendered and agreed to negotiate, and withdrew all serious charges against it on the intervention of invisible forces and released hundreds of workers.
On the other hand, he added, the TJP was a peaceful political party, part of religious alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), and also allied with opposition’s PMLN and PPP. He said the government’s reported talks with the TTP had been successful and it could be restored despite having killed over 80,000 Pakistanis.
