Organization Profile: Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)

At a Glance

Full Name:
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)
Type:
Far-right Islamist political party (Barelvi movement)
Founded:
August 1, 2015 by Khadim Hussain Rizvi (deceased)
Current Leader:
Saad Hussain Rizvi
Primary Location:
Pakistan (Stronghold in Punjab, some presence in Sindh)
Core Ideology:
Defence of Prophet Muhammad's honour, strict enforcement of blasphemy laws, establishment of Sharia law.
Reported Anti-Sikh Stance:
Includes rhetorical attacks against Sikh Gurus and institutions, actions causing disruption to Sikh pilgrims.

Background and Formation

Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) was established on August 1, 2015, by Khadim Hussain Rizvi, a cleric from the Barelvi school of thought. The party's formation stemmed from protests surrounding the execution of Mumtaz Qadri, the police commando who assassinated Punjab Governor Salman Taseer in 2011. Taseer had advocated for reforms to Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws and supported Asia Bibi, a Christian woman accused under these laws.

TLP emerged as the political wing of the pre-existing Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) movement. It rapidly gained prominence through large-scale street protests, most notably the 2017 sit-in at the Faizabad Interchange near Islamabad. This protest demanded the resignation of the Federal Law Minister over perceived changes weakening the religious oath related to the finality of Prophethood in the election bill.

Ideology and Objectives

TLP's core ideology revolves around the concept of "Namoos-e-Risalat" (protecting the honour of the Prophet Muhammad). Its primary objectives include:

  • Upholding and strictly enforcing Pakistan's blasphemy laws (specifically Section 295-C of the Penal Code, which carries a mandatory death penalty).
  • Resisting any attempts to reform or repeal blasphemy legislation.
  • Advocating for the broader implementation of Sharia law in Pakistan.
  • Mobilizing public support through emotionally charged religious rhetoric and street demonstrations.

While condemning specific acts of terrorism attributed to groups like the TTP, TLP has supported the concept of jihad, particularly in contexts related to blasphemy or perceived insults to Islam.

Documented Anti-Sikh Activities & Rhetoric

While there are no publicly documented reports of direct physical attacks orchestrated by TLP against the Sikh community, the organization's activities and leadership rhetoric demonstrate anti-Sikh sentiment:

  • Rhetorical Attacks: In a 2019 sermon, TLP founder Khadim Hussain Rizvi publicly criticized Sikh Gurus and the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor (a visa-free crossing allowing Indian Sikhs to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur). He reportedly suggested Pakistan was not created for Sikh institutions and that supporters of Sikhs should migrate to Amritsar, India (Source: Times of India).
  • Disruption to Pilgrims: TLP protests have directly inconvenienced and disrupted Sikh religious pilgrimages. For instance, in April 2021, large-scale TLP protests against France led to widespread road blockades across Punjab. This significantly delayed over 800 Indian Sikh pilgrims travelling to Gurdwara Panja Sahib (Hasan Abdal) for the Baisakhi festival, turning a normally short journey into an arduous one lasting over 14 hours (Source: The Tribune India).

These actions indicate an underlying animosity and a willingness to disrupt Sikh religious practices through their broader political actions, alongside direct rhetorical condemnations from leadership.

Areas of Operation and Political Influence

TLP's main base of operations and political influence is in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It has demonstrated significant electoral strength there:

  • In the 2024 Punjab provincial election, TLP emerged as the third-largest party by vote share, receiving nearly 2.5 million votes (6.84%) and securing one seat (PP-55 Narowal-II).
  • Nationally, in the 2024 general election, TLP was the fourth-largest party by votes (approx. 2.89 million or 4.88%), although it did not win any National Assembly seats.

TLP also established a presence in Sindh province, winning three provincial assembly seats in the 2018 election. However, its influence there appears to have decreased, as it secured no seats in the 2024 Sindh election.

The party draws support from both urban and rural areas with significant Barelvi populations, using mosques and madrasas associated with the Barelvi movement as centres for mobilization.

Support Base and Funding

TLP's support base is primarily composed of individuals adhering to the Sunni Barelvi interpretation of Islam. This includes:

  • Students and clerics associated with Barelvi madrasas, particularly in rural areas.
  • Segments of the urban population, including professionals. Some reports indicated support from lawyers, doctors, and business people, especially noted in Karachi during earlier phases.
  • Voters shifting from more established mainstream parties. A 2018 Gallup Pakistan survey suggested a significant portion of TLP voters previously supported PML-N.

The specific sources of TLP's funding are not publicly transparent. It is widely believed to rely heavily on donations from its supporters and sympathizers within Pakistan and potentially from the diaspora. While internal fundraising efforts are known, evidence regarding significant external or state funding remains limited or unconfirmed.

Affiliations

TLP is intrinsically linked to and functions as the political face of Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR).

It is also associated with a network of other Barelvi groups and organizations that share similar ideological goals, including:

  • Tehreek-e-Sirat-e-Mustaqeem
  • Aalami Tanzeem Ahl-e-Sunnat
  • Sunni Tehreek
  • Anjuman-e-Fidayan-e-Khatam-e-Nabuwwat

Importantly, while employing aggressive protest tactics often leading to violence and disruption, TLP leadership has generally distanced the organization from explicitly designated terrorist groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).

Key Figures

  • Khadim Hussain Rizvi (Deceased): Founder and first Ameer (leader). Born 1966, died November 2020.
  • Saad Hussain Rizvi: Current Ameer. Born September 1994. Succeeded his father.
  • Syed Zaheer Ul Hasan Shah: Naib Ameer (Deputy Leader).

International Presence

TLP has established a presence beyond Pakistan, particularly in Europe:

  • Spain: Reports from March 2025 detailed the arrest of 11 Pakistani nationals in Barcelona with alleged ties to TLP. They faced charges including inciting violence, terrorist financing, and recruitment, stemming from a multi-year investigation (Source: ThePrint). This suggests an organized network attempting to operate in Spain.
  • Italy: At least one related arrest was reported in Italy, indicating potential network links across European countries.

There is currently limited public evidence of significant, organized TLP activity or structures within the USA or the UK. However, the party utilizes social media, which may reach sympathizers in these countries.

Sources & Further Reading

Information on this page is compiled from the following publicly available sources:

Note: This profile is based on available open-source information. Sikh Sentinel aims to provide accurate summaries but does not independently verify all claims made in cited sources.