ISLAMABAD – The federal government has decided to impose a ban on theTehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan under the anti-terrorism law, Interior MinisterSheikh Rasheed announced on Wednesday.

At a press conference in federal capital, Rasheed said that the interiorministry has decided to deal sternly with everyone taking the law intotheir hands on the request of the Punjab government.

Vowing to ensure the writ of the state at all costs, he said thatmotorways, GT Road, and other major arteries have been reopened for traffic.

“Keeping in view, the religio-political party’s recent activities includingabduction of law enforcers, and destroying of public property has led thefederal government to ban TLP under Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, (11) B,” theminister said at the presser. A summary is being forwarded to FederalCabinet for approval in this regard, he added.

At least two security personnel embraced martyrdom while hundreds wereinjured during the deadly clashes, he continued, while the party’s workersalso tried to take a number of policemen hostage to force the government tobudge.

The minister further warned that authorities will not take back any casesagainst violent activists. He also urged activists to surrender themselvesbefore law enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protests subsided in mostareas of the country, with sporadic clashes reported in some cities.

So far, at least seven people have been killed while hundreds of securitypersonnel and protesters injured in violent clashes for a third consecutiveday on Wednesday.

Police constables Ali Imran and Muhammad Afzal succumbed after they cameunder mob attacks amid fierce clashes. Nearly 100 police officers andpersonnel were injured in the clashes erupted hours after authoritiesarrested the party head, Saad Hussain Rizvi, in Lahore.

Rizvi’s party wants the government to boycott French products and expel theFrench ambassador under an agreement signed by the government with Rizvi’sparty in February.

The violent protests come days after Rizvi in a statement asked thegovernment of Prime Minister Imran Khan to honor what he said was acommitment it made to his TLP to expel the French envoy before April 20over the publication in France of depictions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government says it onlycommitted to discussing the matter in Parliament.