According to reports, the Pakistan Punjab government has removed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi's name from the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, a list of proscribed individuals suspected of terrorism or sectarianism.
The "name of Hafiz Mohammad Saad, being Ameer of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, a proscribed organisation, was listed in the 4th Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, under Section 11-E on the recommendations of District Intelligence Committee, Lahore," according to a Punjab Home Department notification dated November 10. On November 7, the government removed the TLP from the Act's First Schedule as a proscribed organisation, as per the report. The report added, "The name of Hafiz Mohammad Saad is hereby deleted from the list of the 4th Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, with immediate effect."
Rizvi was apprehended by police on April 12 this year, ahead of planned TLP protests. Police filed a first information report (FIR) against the TLP chief the next day, citing sections of the ATA. Shortly after, on April 16, his name was added to the Fourth Schedule. Following another days-long protest by the TLP, which began on October 20 in Lahore, the issue of TLP de-proscription was revisited.
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