‘No evidence that TLP is anti-state party’: Election Commission

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday submitted an implementation report in the Faizabad sit-in case to the Supreme Court, stating that there is no evidence that Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) is involved in anti-state acts.

The ECP sought a report from the Interior Ministry on the involvement of the TLP in anti-state activities, and as per the report, the group was not involved in such activities.
“There is no evidence that TLP is an anti-state party,” the report states.

While examining the party’s funding, the ECP discovered a sum of Rs1.5 million received through unauthorized channels by the TLP. However, the commission clarified that this amount, though obtained improperly, couldn’t be considered foreign funding.

“The TLP’s funding sources were also reviewed and according to the Scrutiny Committee report, the party received Rs1.5 million from prohibited sources, which is little amount for such a party. Such a minor amount received by Tehreek-e-Labbaik cannot be classified as foreign funding,” the ECP report says.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) will take up Faizabad sit-in review petitions for hearing on November 1.

The bench would be presided over by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa. The Registrar’s office of the top court had issued notices to respondents including the Attorney General of Pakistan.
Faizabad Sit-in
Back in November 08, 2017, TLP organized a sit-in at Faizabad interchange against the amendments in the Election Bill 2017, changing the word oath to declaration.

The protesters demanded the resignation of Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid to “protect the identity of the country”.
The protestors achieved their objective as the Pakistani law minister Zahid Hamid stepped down from his position on November 27, 2017 culminating in an end to the protests that continued for 20 days without harm.