The Pakistani government has announced its decision to ban Pakistan Terheek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of jailed former Prime Minister, Imran Khan.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar made the announcement on Monday, July 15, 2024.
Tarar revealed that the decision to ban PTI was based on the party’s alleged involvement in a series of incidents deemed detrimental to the state.
“In view of the foreign funding case, the May 9 riots, the cipher episode, and the resolution passed in the US, we believe that there is very credible evidence present to have the PTI banned,” Tarar stated.
“The government has made a decision to ban PTI after seeing all the available evidence. We will move a case to ban the party,” he added.
Tarar disclosed that the case would be brought to the Supreme Court.
He also said that the government planned to bring treason charges against Khan and two other senior party leaders – former President of Pakistan Arif Alvi and ex-Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Suri – as well as file a review appeal against the Supreme Court’s ruling that said the PTI must be allotted some assembly seats reserved for women and members of religious minorities.
The announcement by Pakistan’s Information Minister came days after the Supreme Court handed a major legal victory to the PTI by declaring it eligible for a share of seats reserved in national and provincial assemblies.
Last week, the Supreme Court recognised the PTI as a political party and affirmed that not having an election symbol does not affect its legal rights to field candidates.
The ruling was in relation to the PTI being banned from contesting parliamentary elections in February using its party symbol, the cricket bat, which forced it to field its candidates as independents.
Despite the setback, the PTI-backed contenders emerged as the largest parliamentary bloc securing 93 seats.
After Khan refused to team up with his political rivals, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) joined forces with other smaller parties to form a coalition government.
Despite these legal victories, Khan remains behind bars.
Ex-Governor Sindh Zubair, who was previously with the PMLN, said the government’s decision was in response to the Supreme Court’s verdict last week and warned of political chaos ahead.
“The powers that be are trying to disenfranchise the largest majority of voters of the country, who voted for PTI,” he told a news agency.
PTI Criticises Government Decision
Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, a senior PTI leader and party spokesperson, stated that the government’s decision “betrays their complete panic.”
“After realising that they cannot threaten the courts or put them under duress, or they cannot blackmail judges any more, they have decided to make this move via cabinet. All their attempts to stop us have been declared illegal by the courts,” he said.
Responding to the ban, the PTI took to social media and urged the government to “not shake the foundations of Pakistan.”
It also criticised Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General, Asim Munir.
“General Asim Munir and his puppet government’s mood is increasing after the process of returning the public mandate of Tehreek-e-Insaaf, which was given on February 8, after which they started daydreaming about banning Tehreek-e-Insaaf.
“No patriot can think of banning the largest and most popular party of the Pakistani country, doing so is tantamount to shaking the foundations of Pakistan and sending the country towards civil war.”
PTI
“Learn from the Hamudur Rehman Commission report and stop playing with fire. The nation will not bear the loss of the country to satisfy your ego,” the post added.
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