The current situation in Pakistan seems to confirm an old saying - "As you sow, so shall you reap." The violent clashes in Lahore and the transformation of Islamabad into a fortress show that Pakistan has become ensnared in a problem of its own making. This issue is rooted in a hardline organization known as Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), once a 'darling' of the Pakistani military.
What is most intriguing is that the Pakistani army itself nurtured and developed TLP. The objective was to forge 'street power' to suppress civilian governments. This strategy mirrors the approach Pakistan previously used against India with groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. But now, this 'pet dog' has begun to turn against its masters.
London-based Pakistani human rights activist Arif Ajakia pointed out, "TLP, much like Lashkar-e-Taiba, is a creation of the Pakistani army. The military devised it for manipulating domestic politics." Now the same group has become a headache for Pakistan.
A massive protest by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) erupted on a Saturday in Lahore. Thousands of supporters have gathered, marching towards Islamabad. TLP's founder, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, claims that 11 of his supporters were killed during these demonstrations.
Double Games of the Military
Since its establishment in 2015, this organization has frequently troubled Pakistan. In 2017, they laid siege to Islamabad for 21 days. It's amusing that whenever this organization stirs up trouble, the Pakistani military steps in as 'mediator' and negotiates with them. Tehreek-e-Labbaik means 'movement' in Arabic and 'my presence here' in Arabic.
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During the 2017 protests, a senior military officer was spotted distributing money to TLP demonstrators—clear evidence of the orchestrated nature of these events. At that time, then Law Minister Zahid Hamid was pressured to resign.
Source: aajtak
Imran Khan's Affection for TLP
One of the most embarrassing facts is that in 2021, Imran Khan's government lifted the ban on TLP. What unfolded was that TLP's leader, Saad Rizvi, was imprisoned under anti-terrorism laws. But thousands of TLP supporters initiated a 'long march' from Lahore to Islamabad. In this violence, over 20 individuals were killed, including 10 police officers.
With mediation from the Pakistani military, Imran Khan's government reached a secret agreement with TLP. The result – Saad Rizvi and more than 2000 TLP activists were released. It was the same Imran Khan who often lectured India about terrorism.
TLP's Role in the 2018 Elections
According to a report by the Indian Council on Global Relations, TLP was utilized in the 2018 elections to weaken the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), clearing the path for Imran Khan. This suggests that TLP acted on directives from the ISI.
Misuse of Religious Sentiments
The TLP's strategy is highly shrewd, often leveraging emotional issues like 'Khatm-e-Nabuwwat' (finality of the Prophet). The tradition of weaponizing religious sentiments is not new in Pakistan—similar tactics have been used against India.
Source: aajtak
Pakistan's Self-destructive Path
The Atlantic Council report explicitly states, "TLP has tasted its strength and learned to use it—not against the state, but in service to those who wield actual control from behind the scenes."
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Human rights activist Amjad Ayub Mirza from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir remarked, "The present chaos is an inevitable result of decades of weaponizing religion. Pakistan is now collapsing under its own contradictions."
The Frankenstein's Monster
This situation is reminiscent of the Frankenstein story, where the monster created ends up threatening its creator. The Pakistani military devised TLP to use against civilian governments, but now the organization is destabilizing the entire country.
