Islamabad: The Pakistani government has announced plans to request the Supreme Court to impose a ban on the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The move, articulated by the Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar during a press conference, is based on accusations of unconstitutional activities and security threats associated with PTI.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the government cites Article 17 of the Constitution, which grants it the authority to disband a political party, as the legal basis for the proposed ban. The decision comes amid allegations of PTI’s involvement in various controversial activities, including foreign funding and events that have raised national security concerns. Minister Tarar highlighted specific incidents such as the May 9 civil unrest, PTI’s alleged connections with resettlement of terrorists, and the controversial cipher episode. He also referred to a resolution passed in the United States that purportedly supports PTI’s activities.
Further legal actions will target key PTI figures, including former President Arif Alvi, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and former Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri. They are accused of constitutional violations related to the dissolution of assemblies after a no-confidence motion against the PTI government. These references are pending approval from the federal cabinet before submission to the Supreme Court.
Minister Tarar also pointed out that the government aims to counteract foreign-based lobbies that are purportedly undermining Pakistan’s security and promoting separatist movements. Measures might include legal actions like blocking passports and identity cards of individuals involved in these lobbies.
Additionally, the government plans to file a review petition against a recent Supreme Court judgment concerning reserved seats, which the minister claims contains legal flaws and was not challenged by PTI at the time. Tarar emphasized that all actions taken will adhere strictly to legal and constitutional frameworks, aiming to deter future constitutional violations and protect national interests.