Justice Farooq Haider recuses himself from Saad Rizvi and Anas Rizvi recovery case

WEB DESK: The Lahore High Court on Monday dealt with a petition seeking the recovery of Hafiz Saad Rizvi and Ans Rizvi, filed by a woman, Sarwat Bibi. During proceedings, Justice Farooq Haider recused himself from hearing the case.

The court recommended that the matter be listed before another bench for further consideration. Subsequently, the case was returned to the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court for reassignment.

The petition seeks legal intervention for the recovery of the two individuals, and the court’s direction ensures it will now be taken up by an appropriate bench.

Arrest of TLP leader Anas Rizvi and ongoing crackdown

A senior leader of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Anas Rizvi, was reportedly arrested during a law enforcement raid in Dera Ismail Khan, where he had been staying at a farmhouse owned by local TLP office-bearer Shafiq Qasooria. Rizvi and his brother Saad Rizvi had been on the run since October 14, 2025, after Punjab police dispersed a TLP protest rally in Muridke that was marching toward Islamabad to demonstrate outside the U.S. embassy. Both brothers were declared most-wanted by authorities in Punjab for defying law enforcement orders and violating public safety regulations.

During the raid, Shafiq Qasooria, son of former caretaker KP agriculture minister Haleem Qasooria, and another local TLP leader were also reportedly detained. Shafiq Qasooria is considered an influential political figure in Dera Ismail Khan. The exact whereabouts of Anas Rizvi following the operation remain unclear, and there is no official confirmation regarding Saad Rizvi’s arrest.

This arrest came amid a broader crackdown on the banned TLP. The federal government officially proscribed the organization under the Anti-Terrorism Act, citing involvement in terrorism, while Punjab authorities froze Rs23.4 billion in assets linked to TLP officials. Law enforcement agencies also dismantled the group’s financial and military infrastructure, recovering illegal weapons, ammunition, bulletproof jackets, and other equipment. Multiple cases have been registered against financiers and key operatives of the banned outfit, reflecting the government’s intensified efforts to curb TLP’s operations and prevent further extremist activities.