Chief of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Saad Rizvi has been released from jail after the government struck a deal with the party last month.
Rizvi has arrived at the Rehmatul Lil Alameen Mosque after being released. He has been released following the withdrawal of a reference which was filed in the Supreme Court’s federal review board for his detention.
The TLP chief was arrested on April 12, three days prior to the federal government’s announcement declaring the TLP a banned organization under anti-terrorism laws and launched a broad crackdown against it.
The government had reached an agreement with the organization following violent protests by the outfit last month. The organization’s name was removed from the First Schedule, Rizvi’s name was removed from the Fourth Schedule, and a number of supporters were released from jails.
The Punjab Home Department issued a notification last week, removing Rizvi’s name, which had originally been added on April 16, from the list of the Fourth Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.
Govt’s deal with TLP
Earlier this month, the TLP announced the end to its prolonged sit-in following its talks with the government. The talks resulted in a deal on October 31, which Mufti Muneeb-Ur-Rehman declared a “victory” for Islam.
However, the contents of the deal have not been disclosed. Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on November 13 shared that details pertaining to the agreement would be revealed “within 10 days”.
On November 2, the government started implementing the secretive accord with TLP, as reports suggested that it had released over 800 supporters of the party that had been arrested across Punjab.
On November 4, in adherence to the deal, the Punjab government made the decision to remove the names of at least 90 activists of the then-banned outfit from the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. Additionally, the Punjab government decided to let go of 100 other activists of the organization from different jails in the province.
Three days later, on November 7, the TLP ceased to be a proscribed party following the government’s accorded approval to the Ministry of Interior’s summary asking for its removal from the First Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
On November 10, Punjab Home Department issued a notification removing Saad Rizvi’s name from the Fourth Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 with immediate effect.
