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LAHORE: The Punjab government has placed chief of the banned party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Saad Rizvi on the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
In a notification, Punjab’s home department said his assets have been frozen, and his national identity card has been blocked. This means he cannot conduct bank transactions nor sell or purchase property.
Similarly, the National Counter-Terrorism Authority placed TLP on the proscribed organisation’s list. Rizvi has to submit his original passport to the in-charge of the concerned police station.
After he submits his passport, he will have to obtain permission from the police station when he wishes to leave his residence — and provide details of any meetings he wishes to hold anywhere.
The authority said stated that any financial assistance to TLP will now be considered as terror financing. The organisation has been given 79th number in the list of proscribed outfits.
Earlier, the Interior Ministry imposed a ban on TLP under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. “The government has reasonable grounds to believe that the TLP engaged in terrorism, acted in a manner prejudicial to the peace and security of the country, the Interior Ministry said in a notification.
The religious group “intimidated the public, caused grievous bodily harm, hurt and death to the personnel of law enforcement agencies and innocent bystanders”, it added.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said that another summary for the dissolution of TLP will soon be submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Following the decision of the apex court, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will de-notify the political party.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has also prohibited coverage of the TLP and issued a notice to all media channels.
PEMRA said that under powers conferred under Section 27 of PEMRA (Amendment) Act 2007, media coverage of TLP is banned. It instructed all satellite TV channels and FM radios licensees to restrain from providing any kind of media coverage to the banned organisation.
