Pakistan Bans Tehreek-e-Labbaik
The Pakistani government officially banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in October 2025. Known for its violent mobilizations against religious minorities and those accused of blasphemy, the extremist Islamist party has raised concerns for many years.
Some see the ban as a crucial step toward reducing religious extremism, but experts warn it may be largely symbolic without deeper reforms. As highlighted in a Bitter Winter seven-part investigation, TLP's ability to reemerge under new names remains a critical challenge as long as underlying social issues persist.
Origins and Ideology of TLP
Founded in 2015 as the political wing of the religious group Tehreek-e-Labbaik-ya-Rasool-Allah (TLYRA), which was established in 2013 by the late cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi, TLP roots itself in the Barelvi tradition of Sunni Islam.
The party’s core agenda focuses on defending Pakistan’s blasphemy laws—known among the strictest globally—and demands capital punishment for alleged blasphemers.
“Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah” (“Here I am, O Messenger of God”) became more than a slogan; it served as a powerful call for both religious devotion and political intimidation.
Support Base and Impact
TLP quickly attracted support from parts of the urban poor and lower-middle class disillusioned by elite corruption and economic inequality. Its rise reflects deeper societal grievances that a mere ban cannot fully address.
Expert Analysis
Despite the ban, TLP’s history shows that extremist groups often reconfigure and continue their activities unless broader problems are tackled. Without reforms targeting these root causes, the ban risks being a symbolic gesture rather than an effective solution.
“The violent, extremist organization has repeatedly demonstrated that it can overcome bans and reorganize with new shapes and names, as long as the broader problems remain unaddressed.”
Author's summary: The ban on TLP in Pakistan marks a notable attempt to curb extremism, but without addressing deeper social and political issues, it is unlikely to end the group's influence.