Pakistan bans violent Islamist party ‘Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’ for 2nd time in 4yrs

Islamabad: Pakistan banned a violent Islamist party under the country’s anti-terrorism law on Thursday (23 October), the government said, days after the group clashed with police in an anti-Israel rally and five people were killed.

Pakistan’s cabinet has approved the ban, the government said in a statement.

The far-right Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s huge and often violent street protests have caused big problems for many Pakistani governments.

The radical Sunni Muslim group, founded in 2015 as a movement, has focused strongly on attacking actions it considers blasphemous.

It turned into a political party in 2016, making blasphemy a rallying cry.

The party was banned by the government of prime minister Imran Khan in 2021 after violent protests.