TLP leader Anas Rizvi reportedly arrested in Dera Ismail Khan raid

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Anas Rizvi, a senior leader of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) was reportedly arrested during a raid in Dera Ismail Khan two days ago, although authorities have not officially confirmed his detention.

Sources told HUM Investigates that Rizvi was staying at a farmhouse owned by local TLP office-bearer Shafiq Qasooria when law enforcement agencies carried out the operation.

Rizvi and his brother, Saad Rizvi, have been declared most-wanted by law enforcement agencies in Punjab and had been on the run for several months.

According to sources, during the raid, authorities also detained Shafiq Qasooria and another local TLP leader.

Qasooria is the son of Haleem Qasooria, a former caretaker agriculture minister in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who was also arrested during the operation.

Local officials described Shafiq Qasooria as an influential figure with strong political connections in Dera Ismail Khan.

There was no immediate clarity on where Anas Rizvi was taken following the reported arrest.

Punjab police officials declined to comment when contacted by HUM Investigates.

Separately, a senior local public office-holder confirmed that the Rizvi brothers had been sheltered in Dera Ismail Khan and added that Anas Rizvi had been arrested.

He also confirmed the detention of Shafiq Qasooria, who was the local ameer of TLP. He said that there was no confirmation regarding the arrest of Saad Rizvi.

Saad Rizvi and Anas Rizvi had been on the run since October 14, 2025,, after Punjab police broke up their protest rally in Muridke, which was marching toward Islamabad to stage a demonstration outside the U.S. embassy, and multiple cases were subsequently registered against them for defying law enforcement orders.

Earlier, the federal government officially imposed a ban on the TLP.

The federal government said that that the TLP was involved in terrorism. The interior ministry banned the TLP under Section 11B Clause 1A of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The TLP’s name was included in the first schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Earlier the Punjab government froze assets worth Rs23.4 billion belonging to officials of the TLP.

The Punjab government also dismantled financial and military infrastructure of the extremist and terrorist outfit and recovered illegal state-of-the-art weapons, thousands of bullets, bulletproof jackets and military equipment.

The Punjab government halted funding for the outfit for spreading hatred in the name of protest and froze bank and digital accounts including 92 Jazz cash accounts.

Cases have also been registered against nine financiers of the banned outfit.