LAHORE: All election ticket holders of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) from south Punjab announced on Friday that they had left the party, accusing it of pursuing an anti-state agenda that “aligns with the country’s enemies”.
The decision was announced at a press conference at Multan Arts Council by NA-150 ticket holder Muhammad Hussain Babar and others.
“This is not merely a political announcement but a call to conscience, belief and loyalty to our country,” Mr Babar told reporters. He said the nation had been founded in the name of religion and vowed to defend it “by making every sacrifice”.
Mr Babar said that Pakistan’s armed forces handed India a historic defeat on the military front and it was a matter of survival and security of Pakistan. “After its defeat, the enemy resorted to paths of internal destabilisation and proxy war, but our forces foiled these conspiracies,” he said.
He said the proscribed party’s long march and protest calls had increased internal pressure on the state and armed forces and strengthened hostile elements.
Quoting an alleged video statement by elements of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claiming links with extremists associated with TLP, he said the footage exposed the “nefarious designs of the enemy”.
He said they had pledged to support the TLP for the protection of Khatm-i-Nubuwwat, supremacy of religion and the security of the country.
However, under the current circumstances, “we are parting ways from TLP because it is acting in the interests of the enemy and undermining Pakistan’s institutions”, he said.
He added, “We stand shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces to thwart the conspiracies of the enemy and for the protection of Pakistan and its institutions and, if need arises, will present ourselves on the field of action.”
13 TLP workers sent to jail
Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court ordered release of 114 TLP workers in murder and violence cases, while sending 13 others, including two women, to jail on judicial remand. Nawankot police had produced 127 suspects before the court after completing their physical remand.
The investigating officer said sticks and clubs were recovered from 13 suspects, while nothing was found on the others. Judge Manzer Ali Gill ordered the release of the 114 and remanded the remaining 13.
Wajih Ahmed Sheikh also contributed to this report
Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2025
