Federal cabinet has decided to continue the ban on religious-political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).
Addressing a press-briefing in Islamabad, Federal Minister for Planning and Development – Fawad Chaudhry announced federal cabinet’s decision to continue the ban on TLP.
The federal minister apprised that the decision to ban TLP was based on merit, as this proscribed organization has been blamed for martyring police personnel, torturing them, and burning down places.
The law ministry and attorney general would take measures aimed at removing the election symbol of the party from the list of the ECP, added Fawad Chaudhry.
It is pertinent to know that federal government had imposed a ban on TLP in April this year following its call of protests demanding of the government to downgrade its ties with France and to expel the French ambassador on the issue of the blasphemous material publication. Its workers clashed with police, took hostage 11 policemen, 580 policemen sustained injuries in the clashes and they destroyed at least 30 cars.
The ban was imposed under section 11B (1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. It empowers the government to ban an organization involved in terrorism.
Following the ban, TLP had approached Ministry of Interior seeking a review of the government’s April 15 decision which had banned the organization.
Federal Cabinet Meeting
Furthermore, Fawad Chaudhry apprised of other decisions made in the federal cabinet meeting chaired by PM Imran Khan on Tuesday (today).
The forum approved granting a 25% special allowance to the armed forces to bring their salaries at par with other departments. The special allowance will not be applicable for Frontier Corps and Rangers.
The meeting at the request of PTI leader and Leader of Opposition in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh, approved to form a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate cases made by the provincial government.
In addition, a report on the security of key figures and the protocol used by them was presented to the Cabinet. The prime minister directed to present a comprehensive plan for rationalizing the security and protocol at the next Cabinet meeting.
The cabinet was briefed on the construction of a multi-storey building on railway land in Nowshera.
The Cabinet directed that better management of Nowshera railway lands should be ensured through National Asset Management Company. The Cabinet was also briefed regarding removal of encroachments in Sector E-8 and E-9 of Islamabad.