On October 20, 2025, the Punjab government in Pakistan launched an intense crackdown on Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a radical Islamist group notorious for its hardline stances and violent street protests. The move, which resulted in the closure of 61 seminaries linked to TLP, marked one of the boldest actions by authorities in recent years to rein in extremist fringe groups. The immediate catalyst was a series of violent clashes that erupted as TLP supporters attempted to stage an anti-Israel demonstration near the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. The chaos left 16 people dead—including police officers—and over 1,600 injured, according to Devdiscourse.
Authorities responded swiftly, detaining more than 6,000 TLP activists in the aftermath of the unrest. The group claims that dozens of its unarmed supporters were killed by police gunfire during the protests, which they said were intended to show solidarity with Palestine. While the state’s version of events differs, the scale of the violence and the government’s sweeping response have thrust Pakistan’s struggle with religious extremism—and the protection of minority rights—back into the national spotlight.
The crackdown has had an unexpected ripple effect. The Ahmadi community, a religious minority that has often found itself the target of TLP’s ire, has reportedly experienced some relief as the group’s infrastructure was dismantled. For many Ahmadis, the closure of TLP seminaries represents a rare reprieve from the harassment and threats that have become an all-too-familiar part of daily life. As Devdiscourse noted, the move has “inadvertently provided relief to the besieged Ahmadi community, who have previously been targeted by the group.”
Meanwhile, the whereabouts of TLP’s leader, Saad Rizvi, remain a subject of speculation and concern. Rizvi is believed to be hiding in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In response, Punjab Police have initiated collaborative efforts with PoK authorities in an attempt to bring him to justice. The pursuit of Rizvi underscores the government’s determination to not only disrupt the group’s operations but also to hold its leadership accountable for the violence and instability that have accompanied TLP’s rise.
But the government’s actions are about more than law and order. As The News observed, the crackdown on TLP is also “an attempt to repair the country’s social fabric, which had been torn apart by the rise of extremist fringe groups.” The timing of the crackdown coincided with Pakistan’s celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights—a moment that saw President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extend greetings to the Hindu community. Their public statements reaffirmed a commitment to minority rights, a message echoed by leaders across the political spectrum, from Sindh to Punjab. This convergence of events was not lost on observers, who saw it as an important step toward healing a nation often riven by religious and sectarian tensions.
The government’s messaging was clear: Pakistan was founded on the principle of protecting minority rights. The country’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, envisioned a state “where minorities would enjoy full equality and freedom,” as The News reminded readers. This vision was rooted in the experience of Muslims who, marginalized in pre-partition India, sought a homeland free from discrimination—one that would not replicate the injustices they had endured.
Yet, as the article acknowledged, the reality has often fallen short of those ideals. Pakistan’s minorities—including Hindus, Christians, Ahmadis, and Shia Muslims—have made significant contributions to government, the armed forces, the judiciary, academia, and public life. But persistent challenges remain. Incidents ranging from forced conversions in rural Sindh to sectarian attacks on Shia communities continue to test the nation’s conscience and commitment to pluralism.
Despite these challenges, the state has “largely resisted sliding into majoritarian extremism,” The News argued, standing—albeit imperfectly—as a bulwark against those who would divide the country in the name of religion. The decisive action against TLP, therefore, is seen not only as a response to immediate violence but also as a reaffirmation of the state’s role in defending the inclusive ideals on which Pakistan was founded.
However, the crackdown is only a first step. The News made several recommendations for moving forward: greater representation for minorities in all spheres of public life, stronger institutional safeguards, and legislative reform—including a careful review of the country’s stringent blasphemy laws. These laws, critics argue, have too often been weaponized by extremist groups for political gain, making minorities vulnerable to exploitation and false accusations.
“Only through such measures can Pakistan protect its minorities from exploitation by those who weaponise faith for political gain, and truly embody the inclusive ideals on which it was founded,” the article stated. The call for reform is not new, but the events of October 2025 have lent it renewed urgency. The government’s actions against TLP, coupled with public affirmations of minority rights, suggest a window of opportunity for meaningful change—if leaders are willing to seize it.
Yet, skepticism remains. While the state has demonstrated its willingness to act decisively against violent extremism, the deeper societal issues that fuel intolerance and division will not be resolved overnight. The history of forced conversions, sectarian violence, and the marginalization of minorities is a long and painful one. Real progress, many argue, will require not only legislative reform but also sustained efforts to promote tolerance, inclusion, and respect for diversity at every level of society.
For now, the closure of TLP seminaries and the mass detentions send a strong signal that the government is serious about confronting extremism. The relief felt by the Ahmadi community offers a glimpse of what a more tolerant and inclusive Pakistan might look like. The public statements by national leaders during Diwali celebrations reinforce the message that minorities are an integral part of the nation’s fabric. Whether these developments mark a turning point or simply a temporary reprieve remains to be seen. But for many Pakistanis—especially those in vulnerable communities—they represent a rare moment of hope in a landscape too often defined by fear and division.
As the state pursues Saad Rizvi and continues its crackdown on TLP, the eyes of the nation—and the world—will be watching to see whether Pakistan can finally realize the promise of equality and justice for all its citizens.