The federal government, on the recommendation of the Punjab government, has finally banned the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). It’s a decision that should have come much earlier, but still, better late than never. The move has been widely welcomed, considering the group’s long record of persecuting minorities, mobilising violent mobs, and spreading hatred under the guise of religion.
Yet, even as the announcement was made, some uncomfortable questions remain. The whereabouts of Saad Rizvi and Anas Rizvi, the sons of TLP’s founder, are still unknown. Reports suggest that both are on the run, but how is it possible that the state, with all its resources, has failed to trace them? Is it a matter of incapacity, or are they being quietly protected for political convenience? These doubts are dangerous because they weaken public confidence and make it harder to believe that extremism is being fought sincerely.
While banning the TLP is an important legal step, it doesn’t address the deeper problem of the mindset the party has cultivated over the years. During its decade-long existence, TLP successfully built a following of nearly three million voters. Even if only a fraction of them hold extremist beliefs, that still means thousands of people could potentially turn violent if left unchecked. Ignoring that social undercurrent would be a serious mistake.
Ending a group can be an easy task, but ending an ideology is not
Pakistan now faces a difficult but essential challenge: how to deal with those who were misled by extremist ideology without turning them further against the state. Arrests and bans can contain violence for a while, but they cannot change minds. What’s needed is long-term engagement, education, employment, counselling, and community involvement, especially for the younger followers. Many of them were simply used as tools by those in leadership, caught up in emotion and false religious slogans. If their energy isn’t directed into something positive, it will eventually explode into something destructive again.
At the same time, protecting minorities must be more than a statement in policy documents; it must be visible in the state’s actions. The repeated targeting of religious minorities under TLP’s influence has left deep wounds. Ensuring their safety and dignity is not just a moral responsibility; it’s essential for Pakistan’s stability and international credibility. A state that fails to protect its weakest citizens cannot claim moral authority over its strongest ones.
Ultimately, the fight against extremism is not just about banning organisations; it’s about changing a mindset that has been allowed to grow unchecked for too long. It’s about reclaiming the true spirit of religion, one of peace, compassion, and justice, from those who have turned it into a weapon.
The TLP ban may mark the end of a group, but the real test for Pakistan begins now. As seen, ending a group can be an easy task, but ending an ideology is not. Therefore, whether it can prevent that same ideology from re-emerging under a different name, or truly lead its people towards a more tolerant and peaceful future, remains to be seen.