The Punjab government has appointed special prosecutors to represent the State in the terrorism cases registered against Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Lahore and Sheikhupura districts, it emerged on Thursday.
This development follows a large-scale operation by law enforcement forces before dawn on Monday to dismantle the religious political party’s protest camp in Muridke, which led to violent clashes, widespread chaos and multiple arrests. The party had undertaken what it described as a “Gaza solidarity” march, vowing to reach Islamabad and protest outside the US embassy.
According to official figures, up to 2,716 people have been arrested after the Muridke operation. Of them, around 251 were arrested by the Lahore police and 178 by the Sheikhpura police. The government has also banned about 2,800 people from traveling abroad, according to Minister of State for the Interior Tallal Chaudhry.
According to an order issued yesterday by the public prosecutor of the Punjab government, seen by sunrise.comSupreme Court lawyer Rana Shakeel Ahmed Khan and High Court lawyer Chaudhry Khalid Rasheed have been appointed as special public prosecutors for all cases registered against the TLP “within the jurisdiction of Lahore and Sheikhupura districts/region”.
The appointments, notified following a letter from Lahore Legal Deputy Inspector General (DIG) to Punjab Police Chief Dr Usman Awan, were made under Section 18 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which allows the government to appoint prosecutors or law enforcement officers to the Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATC), a high court or the Supreme Court.
The Special Public Prosecutors will coordinate with the Investigation Officers and Joint Investigation Teams for “efficient investigation, proper preparation of case files and represent the State before the Trial Courts in all matters including remand, bail and trial etc.; and the Hon’ble Lahore High Court, Lahore (Principal Seat) in all matters including bail, appeals, reviews, requests for suspension of sentence, orders and other various requests”.
Terms and conditions will be published separately, as indicated in the order.
Even as police intensify their crackdown on the group following the events in Muridke, authorities have decided to take a series of measures to “neutralize” the threat that the TLP has posed to law enforcement and non-Muslim communities since its inception.
The decision to rein in the radical group is being linked to some crucial meetings, where the TLP’s tainted record of violent agitations, fatal attacks on law enforcement, as well as looting of Christian and Ahmadiyya places of worship were discussed.
Meanwhile, the number of cases registered against the group has reached 72, with at least 39 registered in Lahore, amid arrests of second and third tier TLP leaders.
As the whereabouts of TLP chief Saad Rizvi are unknown, Lahore DIG Faisal Kamran said Rizvi had escaped during the police operation. He added that the police managed to track his location and that he would soon be arrested.
It may be noted that a money laundering investigation was also launched against Rizvi after law enforcement agencies recovered huge sums of money during a raid at his residence in Lahore. The total money allegedly recovered from the residence amounted to Rs 110 million, including Rs 50,000.
Chaudhry, Minister of State for Home Affairs, has said that action against TLP protesters will be taken in a similar manner to those involved in the May 9, 2023 riots, which led to a nationwide crackdown on the PTI.
