ISLAMABAD – Two days after banning Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday made it clear that the government took action against the TLP under the anti-terrorism law when it challenged the writ of the state and used street violence.
“No one can be above the law and the constitution”, said the Prime Minister in a series of tweets, adding that the TLP attacked the public and the law enforcers.
“Let me make it clear to people here & abroad: Our govt only took action against TLP under our anti-terrorist law when they challenged the writ of the state and used street violence & attacking the public & law enforcers. No one can be above the law and the Constitution”, he added.
The prime minister also criticised elements worldwide who he said indulge in Islamophobia and racist slurs “under the guise of freedom of speech” to hurt and cause pain to the 1.3 billion Muslims across the globe.
“We Muslims have the greatest love & respect for our Prophet PBUH who lives in our hearts. We cannot tolerate any such disrespect & abuse,” Imran Khan said while giving a message to ‘extremists’ abroad who indulge in Islamophobia and racial slurs.
He also said those doing so under the guise of freedom of speech, clearly lack moral sense and courage to apologize to the Muslims for causing this hurt.
“We demand an apology from these extremists,” the prime minister stressed.
PM Khan called upon the Western governments who have outlawed any negative comment on the holocaust to use the same standards to penalise those deliberately spreading their message of hate against Muslims by abusing our Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
On Thursday last, the federal government had declared the TLP a proscribed organisation under the anti-terrorism laws and launched a broad crackdown against the party.
The action came after days of violent protests and traffic disruptions in the major cities of Pakistan, which saw public and private properties damaged by gangs of hooligans bearing sticks and turning on law enforcement officials at their will.
Thousands of TLP activists and supporters rioted in cities across the country for three days after their leader was detained following his call for the expulsion of the French ambassador.
Armed with sticks, canes and in some instances guns, they went on a rampage, damaging properties worth millions of rupees. At least four people were killed and more than 600 were injured during the violent protest over the week.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday last had said that action against the now proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) was being taken under the country’s anti-terrorism law as the ultra right-wing party had challenged the writ of the government.
Meanwhile, PM’s Special Representative on Religious Harmony Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Ashrafi says that Prime Minister Imran Khan represented feelings of the entire Muslim Ummah on Islamophobic incidents.
In a statement on Saturday, he said the world must realise that the sanctity of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wa Sallam Khatim un Nabiyeen is dearer to the Muslims more than their lives.
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