TLP head Khadim Hussain Rizvi arrested

The TLP leader has been shifted to a guest house by the law enforcement authorities.

The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi was taken into protective custody by the police Friday night, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.

The minister said that the action was taken as Rizvi refused to withdraw his call for protest in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh on November 25.

The TLP leader has been shifted to a guest house by the law enforcement authorities.

The information minister said that the law and order situation is fully under control, and requested the citizens to remain peaceful and cooperate with the authorities.

“The TLP has become a threat to the life and properties of the people of Pakistan and continues to do its politics under the cover of religion,” he said.

The minister said the government “did it[s] best” to convince the party against convening for the protest, “but they refused every offer and started to provoke violence”.

Earlier this month, the TLP led days-long protests by religious parties that left roads blocked and paralyzed routine life in major cities of the country.

The protests—which erupted after the Supreme Court ordered the release of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman on death row since 2010, acquitting her of blasphemy charges—ended after an agreement with the government.

The group had also paralyzed the federal capital for weeks when it staged a sit-in at the Faizabad interchange in November last year.

The TLP workers staged brief protests in different cities of the country on the party leader’s detention. The law enforcement authorities quell the protests in view of avoiding unforeseen developments.