Decision taken to ban PTI, says information minister

Treason case to be filed against Imran, Alvi and Suri

IN a move having the potential of plunging the country into chaos, the federal government has announced its decision to impose a ban on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and seek trial of its founder Imran Khan, country’s former president Arif Alvi, and National Assembly’s (NA) former deputy speaker Qasim Suri on treason charges for “unlawfully dissolving the legislature” in 2022.  

The decision came a couple of days after the courts gave relief to the opposition party in the reserved seats and illegal Nikah cases. The move appears to be aimed at preventing the PTI from attaining the status of the single largest party in the NA.

At a press conference on Monday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed the country cannot make progress while the PTI remains intact. “In view of the foreign funding case, May 9 riots, and the cipher episode as well as the resolution passed in the US (against Pakistan) we believe that there is very credible evidence present to have the PTI banned,” he said. “We are going to impose a ban on PTI…”.

According to credible news channels, he expressed the view that “Article 17 of the Constitution gives the government the right to ban political parties, and this matter will be referred to the Supreme Court”.

Article 17(2) of the Constitution states “law shall provide that where the Federal Government declares that any political party has been formed or is operating in a manner prejudicial to the sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan, the Federal Government shall, within fifteen days of such declaration, refer the matter to the Supreme Court whose decision on such reference shall be final”. 

Turning to the moves made by the PTI against the PDM and the current coalition governments, Mr Tarar said: “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.

To further tighten the noose around the PTI, the minister said the government had decided to file a reference against Mr Khan, Mr Alvi and Mr Suri, under Article 6 of the Constitution — which corresponds to high treason — for dissolving the assemblies in April 2022 despite a motion of no-confidence against Mr Khan in the parliament.

“The reference, under Article 6, will be sent to the Supreme Court after being approved by the cabinet,” he added.