Government hunting down TLP leaders as more than 1500 members booked across province

The government is determined to apprehend members of the right-wing religious party, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), with police arresting at least two people while booking 1500 for inciting violence against the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa.

Yesterday, TLP Vice Emir Pir Zaheerul Hasan Shah was arrested after a case was filed against him for an inflammatory speech targeting the CJP outside the Lahore Press Club during a protest against the SC verdict in the Mubarak Sani case.

In February 2024, in the Mubarak Sani case, the Supreme Court ruled that Ahmadis, while declared non-Muslims, retain the right to profess their religion.

Meanwhile, another TLP leader, Saqib Ibrahim, had targeted CJP in what the Okara police called an “illegal public meeting.” Another accused, Tauqeer Nasir, was also present in Okara when Ibrahim made the offending remarks – both were arrested on Monday.

1500 TLP members have been booked in Lahore’s Qila Gujjar police station under various sections of Pakistan Penal Code, including the anti-terror law.

Multiple cases have been filed against 90 TLP members in Okara for indulging in hate speech against the top judge.

Likewise, hundreds of TLP members in Faisalabad and Sheikhupura have also been booked. Dawn News also reported that the Punjab police is on high alert to foil any violence as it continues to hunt down TLP leadership across the province.