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In a major development, the Pakistan government has announced its decision to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, citing alleged involvement in anti-state activities. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar made the announcement on Monday, stating that the federal government believes there is substantial evidence to justify the ban.
Responding to the ban, the PTI took to social media platform X and urged the government to ‘not shake the foundations of Pakistan’. It also castigated Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir and his ‘puppet government’. The post read, “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. General Asim Munir, take care and do not shake the foundations of Pakistan by stopping playing with the constitution any more.
The post further stated, “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. 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.”
Earlier in the day, speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, 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 News International reported that the Supreme Court’s recent judgment rendered the PTI eligible for seats reserved for women and minorities. This ruling positions Khan’s party to potentially become the single largest party in the National Assembly, while the current ruling coalition could lose its two-thirds majority.
According to a report in Dawn, Tarar accused the PTI of trying to damage Pakistan’s diplomatic relations for political gain. “You tried to damage the country’s diplomatic relations for the sake of your political interests and went on to get a resolution passed against Pakistan in the US,” he said. Tarar referenced several key issues, including the foreign funding case, the May 9 riots, and the manipulation of the cipher saga, where former Pakistani ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed, clarified that there was “no threat” involved, contrary to PTI’s claims.
Emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations, Tarar said, “A case against foreign funding is established, the attacks of May 9 are established, the cipher case is established, the resolution in the US is established; therefore, the federal government has decided that, in view of all the evidence, we will move a case to ban the PTI.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Leader of Opposition, Syed Shibli Faraz said that decision to ban Tehreek-e-Insaaf is the government’s final blow.
The government’s decision to initiate proceedings against PTI comes shortly after the Supreme Court provided relief to the party in the reserved seats case and to Imran Khan in the illegal marriage case. Despite these legal victories, Khan remains incarcerated at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, facing multiple charges.
