Punjab Govt removes TLP Chief Saad Hussain Rizvi’s name from fourth schedule

LAHORE, Nov 11 (SABAH): The Punjab government has removed the name of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Chief Saad Hussain Rizvi’s name from the Fourth Schedule, as per a secretive agreement signed with the outfit last month.

A notification was issued by the Punjab Home Departmenty, removing Saad Rizvi’s name, which was added on April 16, from the list of the 4th Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 with immediate effect.

A notification issued by the Punjab Home Department dated November 10 stated that the “name of Hafiz Mohammad Saad, being Ameer of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, a proscribed organisation, was listed in the 4th Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, under Section 11-E on the recommendations of District Intelligence Committee, Lahore.”

It noted that the government had removed the TLP from the First Schedule of the Act as a proscribed organisation on Nov 7.

“Therefore, name of Hafiz Mohammad Saad is hereby deleted from the list of 4th Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, with immediate effect,” it stated.

Earlier, on Sunday, the TLP ceased to be a proscribed organisation after the government accorded approval to the Ministry of Interior’s summary asking for its removal from the First Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

TLP was placed in the said schedule in April 2021 on the recommendation of the Punjab home department.

“The provincial cabinet has considered the request of the organisation and in view of the assurance and commitment by the organisation, is of the opinion that the said organisation shall abide by the Constitution and laws of the country and therefore, keeping in view the larger national interest and long term perspective to ensure that such incidents do not recur in future, the government of Punjab has proposed to the federal government to consider revoking of the proscription of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan,” read an Interior Ministry notification.

The notice stated that “in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of Section 11U of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 (as amended), the federal government is pleased to remove the name of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan from the First Schedule of the said Act as a proscribed organisation for the purposes of the said Act”.

Prior to this, the TLP had announced to end its Waziriabad sit-in following 50% implementation of the agreement reached with the government.