It is Time TLP Builds a Stronger Narrative

Article of Nayab Nasir

Before I begin, I would like to introduce myself to the readers. I belong to a liberal feminist family. My education is from a westernized schooling system. My religious knowledge is very limited and I was among the people who believed that Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi is a fundamentalist, precisely speaking. I even voted for PTI in the last two elections.
I started following TLP during the Ramadan of 2021 when they staged a protest to expel the French Ambassador. That was the time I watched how the TLP workers and leadership stood in the face of oppression without a single weapon in their hands except for a slogan ‘Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah’. I saw when tanks were run over people and no medical aid was provided to the wounded. I also saw when Anas Rizvi led the funeral prayer of the martyrs and was amazed at the level of maturity of a teenager. Since last Ramadan I started listening to the lectures of Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi and realized how mislead we were with regards to his teachings. His knowledge of Islam and Iqbal are beyond comprehension of a layman. His vision was exemplary and he was no doubt a true teacher and guide who instilled such leadership qualities in youngsters like his sons and many other workers of TLP. Since then, I have been an avid listener of all the speeches given by any TLP leader. I have been following how the Tehreek has grown over one year and can visualize the massive support it can garner in the coming years InshaAllah.
I had been thinking of writing this article for a long time, however I did not know if I am in the capacity to state anything on the current strategy of TLP or not. Nevertheless, after much contemplation I decided to pen it down even if it does not reach the concerned authority. In my humble opinion TLP right now has all the elements of a revolutionary political party such as:
1) Young leadership
2) Ideology
3) Mass following
4) Fundamental values and
5) Vision
However, one thing that TLP should needs to improve more is what we call in management sciences a ‘Strategic Plan’. We as Muslims should know that after faith in Allah the first thing a Muslims should have is a plan. The major wars won by Muslims whether it was our Last Prophet (ﷺ), Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed or Salah-ud-Din Ayyubi, were only possible due to their unpenetrable strategic plans. Therefore, I would humbly like to suggest the leadership of TLP, that if they want to bring actual Islamic revolution this high time that you devise a strategic plan. For instance:
1) Discipline the Party Workers – just like discipline is the first thing you learn in offering prayers in Jamaat teach them how to maintain that discipline at all times
2) Raise the Standard of Speeches – instead of using the same rhetoric that mainstream political parties are using, we should have more sophisticated speeches that depict our cultural and religious values. We should not stoop low to their level but should raise the moral standards of the followers of TLP.
3) Party Manifesto – TLP needs to print and disseminate its party manifesto among the general public. So that the public knows that TLP is a political party with not only a vision, a direction but also a plan to reach their goals.
4) TV/Social Media Interviews – TLP leadership should also increase their social media and mass media presence by organizing interviews where they discuss their political vision and how TLP can solve the current problems of Pakistan.

Lastly, I would like to state that in order to become a mainstream political party TLP needs to build a stronger narrative. Instead of just naming and shaming each other like PTI, PMLN etc. are doing right now we need to up our game to the next level which comprises the best of civic sense and a master strategic plan which our Last Prophet (ﷺ) taught us so that we reflect his teachings. With the guidance of the teachings of elders of TLP and the promise of Allah SWT I am pretty sure TLP can bring Islamic revolution in Pakistan in its truest sense.

Written: Nayab Nasir