RAWALPINDI: The names of 54 activists of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have been removed from the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 following the recent agreement between the government and banned outfit.

       According to sources, the 54 TLP activists belonged to the Rawalpindi division.

       They said 28 of the individuals belonged to the Rawalpindi district, 14 to Chakwal, 11 to Attock and one to Jhelum.

       The name of TLP chief Hafiz Mohammad Saad was removed from the fourth schedule on Wednesday.

       A notification issued by the Punjab Home Department on November 10 stated that the “name of Hafiz Mohammad Saad, being Ameer of TLP, a proscribed organisation, was listed in the 4th Schedule under Section 11-E on the recommendations of District Intelligence Committee, Lahore.”

       It said the government had removed the TLP from the First Schedule of the Act as a proscribed organisation on Nov 7.

       Over 200 TLP members picked up by the police from the twin cities and detained in Adiala jail under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) during the recent protest have already been released.

       The TLP had started a protest on October 20 in Lahore which later turned violent with the demand to release its chief.

       Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2021