Amid constant protests that have often turned violent, the Pakistan government has agreed to release 2,000 detained members/associates of the banned TLP (Tehrieek-e-Labbaik Pakistan) including its leader Saad Rizvi. Now, the outfit will be deemed a political party and will be allowed to contest elections.
"In case any further arrests of the party’s workers or leaders are made, the agreement with the government will stand cancelled," said Tehreek-e-Labbaik's Mufti Muneeb Rehman.
The TLP has been in the news for opposing ‘blasphemy’ against Islam and this is one of its main ideological planks. It was formed in 2015 after protests in favour of releasing a police guard Mumtaz Qadri, who assassinated provincial governor Salman Taseer for calling for reform of blasphemy laws in 2011. The group was formed at Qadri’s funeral in 2016 after he was executed.
In late October, it staged violent demonstrations demanding that the French ambassador be expelled for the appearance of the caricatures of Prophet Muhammad in the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. It has demonstrated against the cartons previously as well.
Seven police personnel were killed and Pakistan’s busiest highway was blocked in the wake of the protests.
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