Does the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have a future in politics?

Does the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have a future in politics?

The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) is here to remain .

Within three years of its formation, the right party has not only shown immense street power but it's also proven to possess the electoral strength to originate surprises, like the one in 2018 in Karachi’s Lyari when the TLP candidate raked in additional votes than Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) chairperson.

At the instant , the TLP may be a banned entity for damaging property and attacking enforcement personnel. Yet, its three members of the Sindh Assembly haven't been disqualified. Not only that, but the TLP is one among the frontrunners within the upcoming by-polls in Karachi, despite internal squabbling.

For now, even the ruling party seems divided on the ultimate fate of the TLP, as two views exist within the govt - one group wants the ban to stay , while another wants it lifted.

Extremism in politics

In the last 40 years, the extremism injected in our politics has deeply impacted the kids affiliated with the JUI-F, JI and JUP. Several young men turned to terror groups just like the al-Qaeda and Daesh. Maulana Fazlur Rehman himself has survived a minimum of three suicide attacks.

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In the ranks of the Barelvi party, after the death of Maulana Noorani and Maulana Abdus Sattar Niazi, the JUP couldn't emerge as a robust player. actually during a bid to counter MQM’s muscle power, the young Saleem Qadri formed a replacement group from among JUP called the Sunni Tehreek. This divided the Barelvi vote bank further. Qadri was later assassinated.

After 2007, there have been a series of devastating attacks on shrines in Pakistan, which led to the Barelvi followers developing reactionary tendencies. Then in 2017, out of nowhere, firebrand speaker Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi suddenly appeared on the scene together with his organization the TLP.

The year of the TLP

For many, 2018 was the year of Imran Khan, who had been struggling to return to power for over 20 years . But 2018 was also the year of the TLP, a replacement entrant which quickly established itself because the fourth largest party in terms of votes received.

Many political observers also see the increase of TLP because the revival of the strong Barelvi sect which thanks to two Afghan wars and rise in militancy had taken a back seat.

While it'll not be easy to seek out leadership of the stature of Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani or Maulana Abdus Sattar Niazi, the TLP today is during a much stronger position on the electoral front both in Punjab and concrete Sindh.

I will not be surprised if it performs well within the Karachi by-polls or the local body elections.

Abbas may be a senior columnist and analyst of GEO, The News and Jang. He tweets @MazharAbbasGEO

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