ISLAMABAD — The right-wing Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has been exonerated of accepting foreign funds and participating in anti-state activities by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
On Thursday, the panel reported to the Supreme Court on how the Faizabad sit-in ruling was being carried out.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has also received a written answer from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).
In its report, the ECP corroborated that Rs1.5 million in illegal funds had been transferred to the TLP.
While the TLP did get a small payment, it was compared to “salt in dough” and hence dismissed as insignificant. According to the findings, the money the TLP obtained from illegal sources could not be considered foreign funding.
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The report states that the commission thoroughly investigated the TLP’s funding and found no signs of foreign involvement.
The investigation also debunked claims that the TLP was involved in terrorist attacks. According to the document, the ECP had requested information from the interior ministry regarding the TLP’s participation in terrorist acts. The Ministry of the Interior responded by saying the TLP was not involved in any subversive actions.
The commission concluded that there was insufficient evidence to label the TLP a terrorist organization. The report concluded that the ECP understood its constitutional responsibilities and rescinded the notice it had given to the TLP after conducting a comprehensive investigation.
After receiving the highest court’s orders, Pemra responded in writing to confirm that they had been carried out. It also said it has warned all television networks to exercise caution while discussing religion on air.
Live coverage of the Faizabad operation by television news outlets was also reportedly prohibited by the authority.
Further, TV news outlets were pulled from air due to rule violations.
After 24 hours, Pemra reported that the federal government instructed them to resume airing the channels.
It mentioned how two private TV news networks had their broadcasts cut off and how some journalists had complained about it.
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Pemra, however, denied reports that it had given a directive to pull the plug on any news broadcasts.
On November 1, the case will be heard by a three-member Supreme Court bench presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa.
In 2017, the TLP staged a sit-in in Islamabad’s Faizabad neighborhood, and the Supreme Court ruled on the matter. The scathing ruling, written by Justice Isa, had warned the spy agencies not to go beyond their constitutional authority.
It had also ordered the federal government to keep an eye on and penalize anybody who advocated hatred, extremism, or terrorism. Several government agencies and other public sector organizations were also singled out for criticism.
