The Punjab Home Department has formed 12 Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) to probe key cases registered against elements of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).
The JITs will investigate cases under terrorism and other serious provisions of the law. Each committee will include representatives from the police, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and intelligence agencies.
According to a government notification, seven JITs will handle cases in Lahore, while five will oversee investigations in Sheikhupura. The move finalises efforts to streamline investigations into 12 critical cases, following a request from the Punjab Police.
Punjab Police have registered over 75 cases against the banned TLP and have arrested more than 2,000 named suspects across various investigations. To expedite the process, the services of a special prosecutor have also been secured, sources said.
Read: Police cases against 90 alleged TLP financiers raise legal questions
Addressing a news conference on Tuesday, Information Minister Azma Bukhari disclosed that assets worth Rs23.40 billion had been frozen, along with 92 bank accounts.
She said that 90 financiers involved in funding the banned group had been booked, while 31 additional FIRs were registered for spreading hate speech and incitement on social media platforms.
The TLP was declared a proscribed organisation in the last week of October. Registering FIRs against those who funded the organisation before this proscription raises serious questions regarding the legality of the move.
Police and the information minister were asked by The Express Tribune to explain how individuals who funded a legally operating entity were charged, but no response was received until the filing of this report.
Dozens of people have been rounded up across the city on charges of having links with TLP to prevent any possible gathering on the party founder’s death anniversary. The sweeping arrests reportedly did not even spare those with no direct or indirect connection to the group.
