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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) for tomorrow (Friday) amid the ongoing protests by the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced on Thursday.
Taking to Twitter, the federal minister said that the meeting had been summoned amid the situation arising out of the “illegal activities” by the banned group. “Other issues related to national security will also be discussed in the meeting,” he added.
Fawad Chaudhry’s statement comes as thousands of TLP workers left Kamoke are marching towards Gujranwala city on Thursday morning, continuing with their long march to Islamabad.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari said that the state had laws against terrorism and militancy. “Killing of policemen and other law enforcement agencies by the TLP or any group will be dealt with the full force of the law,” she said.
“Restraint by the government so far should not be mistaken as weakness. Let there be no ambiguity on that count,” the Human Rights’ minister added.
A day earlier, Chaudhry announced that the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) would not be allowed to challenge the writ of the state and would be treated as a “militant” group – not a religious party.
“The cabinet has decided to treat TLP as a militant organisation and it will be crushed as other such groups have been eliminated. Pakistani state has defeated major terrorist organisations such as Al Qaeda,” Chaudhry added.
Fawad further said the government had evidence that the TLP was being funded by some groups in India. “The TLP was established in 2015 and since then, its modus operandi had been to come out on the roads and block them,” he added.
The same day, Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid said that “like Karachi”, Rangers were being deployed in Punjab for 60 days to maintain the law and order situation in the province.
