TLP Leaders Resign Over Concerns About Party Direction, Citing Fears of Aiding Indian Propaganda

Several prominent members of the proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have announced their departure from the organization and withdrawal from active politics, expressing concerns that recent decisions by the party’s central leadership have inadvertently provided ammunition for Indian propaganda efforts.

During a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Muhammad Nadeem appeared alongside multiple high-ranking TLP officials, including Shura members Shabbir Ahmed and Amjad Naeem, as well as Nazim-e-Aala Muhammad Waqas and Muhammad Zaheer. The group collectively announced they had made the decision to cut all ties with the party and cease their political activities.

The departing leaders revealed they would now redirect their professional focus toward the education sector, signaling a complete shift in their career trajectories following their exit from the controversial religious political party.

In their statement, the former TLP officials pointed to a specific turning point that led to their decision – the period following the death of TLP founder Khadim Hussain Rizvi. According to the group, certain decisions made by the party’s Shura (leadership council) after Rizvi’s passing were fundamentally at odds with their personal values and vision for Pakistan.

“We cannot be part of any policy that thrives on disorder and confrontation,” the leaders stated, suggesting that the TLP’s recent approach has fostered division and unrest within Pakistani society. Their primary concern centered on how these policies could be weaponized by neighboring India for propaganda purposes against Pakistan.

Despite stepping away from the TLP, the leaders emphasized their ongoing commitment to protecting the sanctity of Prophethood (peace be upon him) – a core tenet of the TLP’s platform – but stressed they would pursue this cause through peaceful and constructive means rather than confrontational tactics.

The group characterized Pakistan as “a great blessing from Allah Almighty” and pledged to redirect their efforts toward making positive contributions to the nation’s progress and prosperity, suggesting a stark philosophical departure from the TLP’s more aggressive advocacy methods.

This resignation comes during a particularly challenging period for the TLP, which was banned by Pakistan’s federal government in October 2023. The Ministry of Interior issued a formal notification under Section 11B (1)(a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, officially designating the TLP as a proscribed organization. The government cited “reasonable grounds to believe that TLP is connected and involved in terrorism” as justification for the ban.

The proscription followed a unanimous approval by the federal cabinet, which acted on a request from the Punjab provincial government highlighting the group’s history of violent and extremist activities. During a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, officials noted that “since 2016, this organization has fueled agitation nationwide.”

This marks the second time the TLP has faced a government ban. The organization was previously outlawed on April 15, 2021, during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan. That ban was relatively short-lived, being revoked on November 7 of the same year as part of a deal to end nationwide protests.

The TLP has been a controversial yet influential force in Pakistani politics, mobilizing thousands of supporters around religious causes, particularly issues related to blasphemy laws and the protection of Islamic values in the country’s governance.