LAHORE: Punjab Cabinet on Thursday approved the removal of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) from the list of proscribed organisations, apparently per a secret deal signed between the federal government and the party on October 31.

Thursday evening, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar approved the initial summary moved by the Home Department for the removal of the TLP from the list of proscribed organisations,

After giving the green light, CM Buzdar ordered the services department (S&GAD) of the Cabinet Wing to get the ministers approval via circulation. Following which the provincial ministers approved the removal of the TLP from the proscribed outfits list.

Sources told Bol News that after receiving written orders the provincial government will ask the Centre to take the next step to complete the process.

According to sources, the Punjab Home Department submitted the summary to CM Buzdar Thursday morning after the provincial cabinet’s sub-committee on law and order green-lighted the move.

The meeting, chaired by Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat, also decided to remove the names of at least 90 TLP activists from the Fourth Schedule. The Fourth Schedule is a section of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and a person named in the list is treated as a terror suspect and kept under observation.

“The fourth schedule list also includes people who are suspected of involvement in any anti-state activities and delivering hate speeches. It is referred to by the police and other law enforcement agencies for effective monitoring,” sources explained.

They said the removal of the names would allow the activists to freely move in the country without keeping their police stations in the loop.

“So, the government is basically accommodating them and easing things for the banned outfit in view of the agreement,” a source said.

“It was also decided that the government will release 100 more TLP activists from different jails of Punjab. It also reviewed the decision taken by the steering committee which was assigned the task to deal with the TLP related matters,” said a senior official who was part of the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Punjab Police Inspector General (IGP) Rao Sardar Ali Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Home Zafar Nasrullah and others.

The Imran Khan-led government started implementing the accord signed with the TLP on October 31 in an apparent bid to stop thousands of the activists of the party from marching towards Islamabad despite a governmental clampdown.

Reports claim that over 800 activists and supporters of the banned outfit were released from across Punjab. Sources said the formal implementation of the agreement started after the steering committee formed by PM Imran Khan met to execute the deal.

“The summary moved to remove the TLP’s name from the proscribed list today is also part of this development,” a source said.