The Pakistan government on Thursday formally banned the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) after days of violent protests by the members of the radical islamist group following the arrest of their leader. A notification declaring TLP as a proscribed organization was issued by the Ministry of Interior shortly after the federal cabinet approved a summary to ban the party, reports Dawn News.

The notification as quoted by Dawn News said the federal government 'has reasonable grounds to believe that Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan is engaged in terrorism, acted in a manner prejudicial to the peace and security of the country, involved in creating anarchy in the country by intimidating the public, caused grievous bodily harm, hurt and death to the personnel of Law Enforcement Agencies and innocent by-standers, attacked civilians and officials, created wide-scale hurdles, threatened, abused and promoted hatred, vandalised and ransacked public and government properties including vehicles and caused arson, blocked essential health supplies to hospitals, and has used, threatened, coerced, intimidated, and overawed the government [and] the public and created sense of fear and insecurity in the society and the public at large'.

"Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 11B(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, the Federal Government is pleased to list Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan in the First Schedule to the said Act as a proscribed organization for the purposes of the said Act," it added.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad earlier, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid was quoted as saying by Dawn News that the government would also take measures for TLP's dissolution, saying a separate summary will be moved in the cabinet in this regard tomorrow.

The move came after the two-day-long violent protests, staged by the group, left at least four people dead, including two policemen, who were shot dead by armed protesters.

Since the last year, soon after the controversial remarks by French President Emmanuel Micron on Islam,  the TLP has been demanding the expelling of the French Ambassador from Pakistan and a ban on the import of goods from France. The government, however, later refused to follow these demands.

(IBNS)