TLP leaders not injured and are being traced, says Azma Bukhari

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari announced on Tuesday that the government will soon move to ban the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). She said authorities have identified hundreds of national and international financiers, frozen their accounts, and recovered substantial assets linked to the group.

Speaking at a press conference, Azma Bukhari said investigators have traced some 3,800 financiers, including prominent, educated individuals, whose funds supported TLP activities. “Their accounts have been frozen and they will face terrorism charges,” she said.

Responding to viral social-media claims about the Rizvi brothers, the minister dismissed reports that they were killed or injured. “Reports of the Rizvi brothers being killed or shot are false. They are not injured and are currently being traced by police; they will be taken into custody soon,” she said.

Azma Bukhari listed valuables seized from the TLP chief’s residence, including nearly two kilograms of gold, around 900 grams of silver, dozens of branded watches, multiple gold bangles, bracelets, necklaces, rings and a silver crown.

She added that several benami properties and the group’s headquarters, described as a “no-go area,” were also identified and secured.

The minister further alleged that TLP maintained a separate operational office equipped with modern communication tools from which life-threatening messages were issued against her, other officials and journalists.

She said the government has taken control of 330 TLP mosques, these places of worship will remain open for prayers and the adhan, but there will be “zero tolerance” for misuse of loudspeakers beyond adhan and prayers across Punjab.

Warning of firm action, Azma Bukhari concluded: “Those who took the law into their own hands, who killed our SHO and caused the deaths of more than 110 policemen and civilians, will not be allowed to escape justice.”