The government had struck a new deal with the Tehrik Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in February and the PM wanted to take the agreement to Parliament before April 20, the new deadline set for the implementation of the TLP’s demands. Being suspicious about the government’s intentions the TLP’s youthful leader communicated an action plan to its branches in case the promise was not fulfilled. His arrest triggered a countrywide three-day violence by the extremist organisation’s activists. Finally, the state decided to bring an end to the mayhem. Law enforcers restored normality in the country uprooting almost all TLP strongholds. To avoid any backlash after Friday prayers, Interior Ministry ordered the suspension of social media services for three hours.
The TLP chief is under arrest. The situation is under control. The government has banned the TLP and has decided to seek its dissolution through the Supreme Court. The lesson: if the state decides to bring to heel a well-oiled extremist network, it can do it.
This raises questions. What explains the continuous policy of appeasement towards TLP? Right from Day One, the TLP leadership made no secret of resorting to violence if its extremist demands were not accepted. Despite this the TLP was allowed to hold a nearly three-week-long sit-in at Faizabad Interchange where it forcibly blocked traffic between Rawalpindi and Islamabad? Instead of nipping the evil in the bud, the violent extremist organisation was allowed to spread itself all over the country and contest national elections. Again, why didn’t security agencies advise the PM against entering into deals with the TLP, first over placing Asia Bibi’s name on ECL after the Supreme Court order to release her and again over the expulsion of the French ambassador?
On Friday Opposition MNAs raised several questions in the National Assembly about the TLP. It was asked why an agreement was signed with the TLP despite knowing that the government could not sever bilateral relations with France? It was demanded that a committee be set up to deliberate on the objectives of establishing the TLP and those behind the move. The Interior Minister was asked to inform the house on details of the banned organisations and what action, if any, had been taken against them. A senior parliamentarian observed why a genie is created that later becomes a headache for its creators.
