A method for driving a thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) panel during a display-off period is provided for avoiding image flickering when the panel resumes image display. Flickering when resuming image display is due to charge accumulated on liquid crystals (LCs) during the display-off period. For a cell having a TFT and a LC, the method releases the accumulated charge by driving a gate electrode with a VGH voltage to turn on the TFT for a short pre-determined duration regularly over the display-off period. Over the pre-determined duration, a VCOM electrode and a source electrode of the cell are also driven with a GND voltage, thereby releasing the accumulated charge from the LC as the TFT is turned on. The remaining time in the display-off period may be advantageously used for touch sensing while avoiding flickering after image display is resumed.