The Pakistan Punjab government has removed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi's name from the Fourth Schedule - a list of proscribed individuals who are suspected of terrorism or sectarianism under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, Dawn reported.
TLP protesting Saad Rizvi's arrest. Image Courtesy: Reuters
Islamabad:
A notification issued by the Punjab Home Department dated November 10 stated that the "name of Hafiz Mohammad Saad, being Ameer of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, a proscribed organisation, was listed in the 4th Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, under Section 11-E on the recommendations of District Intelligence Committee, Lahore".
It noted that the government had removed the TLP from the First Schedule of the Act as a proscribed organisation on November 7.
"Therefore, name of Hafiz Mohammad Saad is hereby deleted from the list of 4th Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, with immediate effect," it stated, the report said.
Police had arrested Rizvi on April 12 this year ahead of planned protests by the TLP. The next day, police registered a first information report (FIR) against the TLP chief under sections of the ATA.
His name was placed on the Fourth Schedule shortly after, on April 16.
The government had declared the TLP a proscribed outfit under the anti-terror law in April this year, after three days of violent protests by the group's activists across the country.
The matter of TLP's de-proscription again came under consideration following another days-long protest by the TLP, which started on October 20 in Lahore.
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