In a dramatic escalation of state action, the Punjab government on October 21, 2025, launched a sweeping crackdown on the hardline Islamist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and its supporters, freezing dozens of bank accounts, seizing properties, and placing hundreds of mosques and seminaries under government control. The move, widely covered by The Express Tribune and corroborated by Athens-based Geopolitico, comes in response to a week of violent protests and mounting unrest that has left Pakistan’s political and social landscape shaken.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari, speaking at a press conference in Lahore, revealed that 95 bank accounts linked to TLP chief Saad Rizvi had been frozen, while an additional 3,800 national and international accounts suspected of funding the group were under investigation. “Those financing TLP will face terrorism charges,” Bokhari warned, emphasizing the government’s intent to pursue not just street agitators but also the financial networks underpinning the movement. She further disclosed that authorities had recovered 1.92 kilograms of gold, 898 grams of silver, 69 branded watches, and cash worth over Rs144 million during a raid on Rizvi’s residence. The haul included foreign currency—Indian rupees, Saudi riyals, and UAE dirhams—and jewellery valued at Rs63 million.
Amid these measures, the Punjab cabinet approved a summary seeking a formal ban on the TLP, which now awaits a final decision by the federal government. The urgency of the ban, according to Bokhari, reflects the administration’s zero-tolerance approach to “anyone using religion to fuel unrest.” She also addressed swirling rumors regarding the grave of TLP founder Khadim Hussain Rizvi, clarifying that no order had been issued to relocate it, but warning against its use as a rallying point for fundraising or incitement. “No one will be allowed to use the grave as a rallying point for fundraising or incitement,” Bokhari insisted, calling such social media speculation "false and politically motivated."
The crackdown extends beyond financial and symbolic targets. The government has taken custody of 130 mosques once under TLP influence and geo-tagged 223 madaris (religious seminaries). “These mosques will remain open for prayers, but no political activity or provocative speeches will be tolerated,” Bokhari stated. Six seminaries built on state-owned land are to be handed over to moderate Sunni scholars, a move aimed at curbing the group’s reach while maintaining religious access.
The catalyst for this aggressive response was the TLP’s recent “Gaza March,” a mass mobilization that defied Section 144 (a law prohibiting large gatherings) and culminated in violent clashes in Muridke. The confrontation left one police officer martyred, three protesters dead, and dozens more injured. “It is tragic that riots are being justified in the name of Islam and Palestine,” Bokhari lamented, describing the unrest as a manipulation of religious sentiment for political ends.
National authorities have echoed Punjab’s hard line, but with a careful distinction. On October 22, 2025, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, speaking in Karachi, assured the public that federal action targets only those who are armed, not any particular religious group. “Action will be taken against anyone who is armed, not against any particular group,” he declared at a joint press conference alongside Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and MQM-Pakistan Chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. Naqvi stressed that both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir were working diligently to restore peace and stability. “We are achieving results—what we now need most is unity,” he remarked, calling for national cohesion amid the turmoil.
To further ease religious leaders’ concerns, Naqvi met with Mufti Muneebur Rehman and other prominent Sunni scholars, promising transparency in investigations related to the Muridke incident. According to Mufti Abdul Razzaq Naqshbandi, spokesman for Mufti Muneebur Rehman, “The ulema presented their stance on multiple issues, and the minister promised resolution of all matters. It was agreed that a detailed session would be held in Islamabad to address legitimate concerns.” Naqvi reiterated the federal government’s commitment to non-interference in mosque or seminary affairs, a reassurance meant to defuse accusations of religious persecution.
The government’s actions, however, have not been without controversy or consequence. According to Geopolitico, the crisis has laid bare deep societal and governmental fault lines, with repercussions extending well beyond the immediate violence. Over the past week, violent clashes between TLP supporters and state security agencies across Punjab province have claimed the lives of more than a dozen people, including law enforcement officers. The TLP’s “Labbaik Ya Aqsa Million March” to Islamabad was not merely a local protest but a calculated demonstration against both pro-Palestinian policies and perceived Western diplomatic interests. Supporters gathered near Lahore with the intent to reach the US embassy in the capital, only for the demonstrations to devolve into chaos—stone-pelting, arson, makeshift weapons, and, according to authorities, indiscriminate gunfire that left civilians and security personnel dead or injured.
The unrest, as Geopolitico notes, stems from Pakistan’s persistent susceptibility to religiously motivated mass mobilization. The state’s struggle to mediate such crises and enforce the law has reinforced perceptions of governance failures, both domestically and abroad. The damage, the report argues, is not limited to bloodshed: “The consequences of this unrest reach far beyond immediate bloodshed, with repercussions visible in Pakistan’s domestic stability and its standing with Western powers.” The government’s harsh response has drawn criticism for suppressing dissent and damaging Pakistan’s democratic reputation, even as officials insist that tough measures are necessary to prevent chaos.
In the digital sphere, authorities have issued stern warnings against incitement. Bokhari cautioned that individuals fomenting violence on platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook would face terrorism charges and be denied university admissions, visas, and other state facilities. “We do not want pressure groups emerging in Pakistan,” she said pointedly. “Anyone conspiring against peace and stability will face the full force of the law.” She concluded with a direct appeal to parents: “Your children were not born to become someone’s cannon fodder.”
As the government awaits a final decision on the TLP ban and continues to grapple with the fallout of the recent unrest, the crisis has underscored the delicate balance between security and civil liberties, the enduring power of religious mobilization, and the profound challenges facing Pakistan’s democracy. The coming days will reveal whether the state’s crackdown will restore order or further deepen the country’s divisions.
