LAHORE: Assets worth Rs23.40 billion belonging to the banned TLP have been frozen, along with 92 bank accounts linked to the organisation, says Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, she said 90 financiers involved in funding the banned group had also been booked and 31 additional FIRs registered for spreading hate speech and incitement on social media.

Azma claimed that a significant quantity of modern weapons, bulletproof jackets, and ammunition shells had been recovered during operations against the organisation.

She further stated that 84 per cent Imams (prayers leader) across Punjab had been registered and the process would reach 100pc completion within the next few days.

She added that the chief minister continued to appreciate the crucial role of Islamic scholars, who were not given due respect by previous governments.

Ms Bokhari said the Punjab Home Department had successfully brought five Wafaqul Madaris bodies on board, and the formal registration of seminaries across the province would commence soon.

The minister informed that 6,220 Afghan nationals have been repatriated in just three weeks. She asserted that illegal Afghans were trying to flee from Punjab and seek refuge in other provinces; therefore, the issue was being raised with the federal government and the Apex Committee.

She said a few number of Afghan citizens now remain in Punjab, and cases have been lodged against individuals who provided them shelter.

Azma Bokhari also said that several districts – including Jhelum, Chakwal, Attock, Pakpattan, Khushab, and Bahawalpur – had witnessed a 70 to 90 per cent reduction in incidents of robbery, theft, and street crime.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2025