The extremist organisation, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), which has been spearheading a campaign against Ahmadiyyas, Christians, Hindus and other minorities in the guise of blasphemy, is now cleared by the Election Commission of Pakistan to contest the next round of elections. The commission, in a recent order, exonerated the group from ‘anti-state activities’ charges.
The TLP has been making noticeable gains in the recent elections.
The group has been under close scrutiny of the Supreme Court since its Faizabad sit-in organised with the tacit understanding of the Pakistan Army. The apex court is taking up a review of the case on November 1.
On September 29 this year, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez expressed his unhappiness over the government’s failure to implement the Supreme Court’s order on the 2017 Faizabad sit-in. T
he case involved the role of ISI, Pakistan Army and extremist organisation, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). The ISI was seen to be helping the extremist outfit by handing out money to withdraw the street protests. The ISI operation was run by former ISI chief Faiz Hameed.
Justice Qazi Faez, who had passed the directions to the ISI and other agencies, was threatened with a reference which, reports indicated, was raised at the instance of ISI chief Faiz Hameed.
The Supreme Court had then taken the case suo moto and issued directives to the government, especially the ISI.
In the wake of the Faizabad Dharna implementation case, which is set to be revisited by the Supreme Court next week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), one of the respondents in the case, submitted its report to the top court on October 26,2023..
The report clearly states that the TLP was not found to be engaged in any “anti-state activity.” In a concise three-page response to the apex court, the election watchdog highlighted that the clearance of TLP from the aforementioned allegations was based on a report submitted by the Ministry of Interior and its affiliated agencies, as reported by Express News.
The Ministry of Interior and the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) submitted reports, and after careful review, the Election Commission determined that TLP had no involvement in “anti-state activity” or “terrorism.”
Furthermore, the ECP clarified that with these findings, the potential designation of TLP as a proscribed organisation was dismissed.
Additionally, the Election Commission of Pakistan revealed that TLP had received a sum of Rs1.5 million, which was duly recorded in their official account.
The report argued that if there had been any suspicion about the source of this income, suggesting it might have been obtained through prohibited funding, TLP would not have disclosed it. It was also noted that for TLP, this amount of Rs1.5 million was considered insignificant.
The Faizabad sit-in case, presided over by the incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Justice Qazi Faez Isa, marked a significant moment in Pakistan’s political history. During this case, the Supreme Court brought intelligence agencies into focus, citing their alleged failure to prevent the rise of violent extremism.
October 26, 2023
Source: Express Tribune