The Punjab government has constituted 12 joint investigation teams (JITs) to probe multiple cases registered against the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Lahore and Sheikhupura districts, it emerged on Wednesday.
These teams were notified by the provincial home department through similar documents — 11 issued on November 6 and one dated October 31.
According to the notifications, reviewed by Dawn, the provincial authorities ordered the creation of five JITs under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 to investigate as many cases filed against the TLP in Sheikhupura district. Four of these cases were registered in Muridke tehsil and one in Ferozewala.
Another seven JITs have been formed for cases lodged in Lahore. Of these, three cases were registered in the Nawankot area, three in Shahdara Town, and one in the Ravi Road locality.
Each JIT for Sheikhupura cases will include six members: a superintendent of police (SP), sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), station house officer (SHO), investigating officer (IO), a Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) representative of DSP rank, and any co-opted member.
For Lahore cases, each JIT will comprise five members: SP Investigation, DSP Investigation, IO, a CTD representative of DSP rank, and any co-opted member.
The notifications further state that the “convener of the JIT shall depute one of its members for submitting the required report,” as per Section 19(1) of the ATA 1997.
Crackdown on TLP
In recent weeks, the Punjab government has intensified its crackdown on the TLP following the ban imposed on the group after violent clashes between its protesters and law enforcement personnel in Muridke last month.
The banned organisation had launched a protest march in support of Gaza and Palestine, intending to reach Islamabad for a demonstration outside the US embassy. However, the march was halted after clashes erupted, with reports of party workers attacking law enforcement agencies.
Subsequently, the federal government banned the organisation on Punjab’s request, concluding that the TLP was “involved in terrorism and violent acts”.
Authorities are also searching for TLP Chief Saad Rizvi and his brother Anas Rizvi, whose disappearance has puzzled Punjab police and other law enforcement agencies.
Both were declared high-profile targets, wanted in over 100 FIRs. On October 29, the two brothers, along with 21 senior leaders, were placed on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) to prevent them from leaving the country.
A senior officer at the Central Police Office (CPO) Lahore told Dawn on Nov 13 that Lahore police have so far arrested around 1,250 key TLP members, including financiers and workers wanted in more than 100 criminal cases.
He added that Lahore remained the focal point of the group’s activities since it houses the party headquarters, prompting a major police focus on apprehending its hardcore members in the city.
A list of targeted members was compiled using geofencing data from the routes used by the group during their march toward Islamabad and their clashes in Muridke.
Police stations across Lahore were also given a separate list of TLP financiers, with crackdowns continuing daily.
According to sources, families of the ‘wanted’ members are suffering greatly due to repeated police raids. Many families have locked their houses and gone into hiding to avoid action.
On Tuesday, Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari shared that assets worth Rs23.40 billion linked to the TLP had been frozen, along with 92 bank accounts associated with the organisation.
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