The federal government on Monday announced that it will be banning the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) given its alleged role in orchestrating and then directly attacking state institutions on May 9, 2023.
The announcement comes less than a week after a Supreme Court verdict effectively recognised and returned the PTI to Parliament as a parliamentary party with at least 39 elected representatives and a choice with the remaining 41 to decide whether they want to side with the PTI in the National Assembly or not.
The government's decision, however, was announced during a news conference in Islamabad on Monday by Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
Tarar said that the PTI was involved in attacking state institutions, including defence installations.
For the first time in over a year since the incident, Tarar claimed that PTI founder Imran Khan's entire family was involved in the incidents of May 9, with all three of his sisters, including Aleema Khan, present outside the Lahore Corps Commander House, also known as Jinnah House, when it was attacked on May 9.
The minister claimed that as the events of May 9 unfolded, PTI allegedly informed supporters that a revolution was at hand and then directed party members and followers to take up their predetermined "positions."
He further claimed that PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan promoted politics of violence and chaos and that he caused damage to national defence installations.
If the country has to progress, it cannot do so with PTI.
On the one hand, Tarar accused the PTI of providing a safe haven to terrorists on the pretext the terrorists would play a role in improving state sanctity, while on the other, they mounted an attack on the army's nerve centre, the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and Corps Commander houses. At the same time, the National Action Plan (devised to counter terrorism) was shelved.
Tarar confirmed that the government has taken four major decisions. First, all action will be taken per the Constitution and law. He claimed that what Imran Khan did with the top secret cipher document helped support enemy states. He further asked what was the source of billions in funds received from foreign sources.
He added that the Constitution empowers the government to ban anti-state groups and parties and that they have sufficient reason to ban the PTI in this regard. He further accused the PTI of taking unconstitutional measures to dissolve the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The minister said that if this country has to progress, they must ban miscreants.
Confirming that the government has decided to impose a ban on the PTI, he said that the government will file a case in the Supreme Court. He further claimed that they had clear evidence which supports the ban on the PTI and that the federal cabinet is due to deliberate and finalise the action in its next meeting.
Moreover, he said that the federal government has decided to file a case under Article 6 against former president Arif Alvi, PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and former deputy speaker Qasim Suri. After the federal cabinet approves, a reference will be sent to the Supreme Court.
Tarar claimed they were taught to respect political opponents, but opponents considered their silence and patience on the matter weaknesses.
Voicing tacit opposition to the Supreme Court's verdict in the reserved seats case, Tarar claimed that a party was given a right it did not deserve and that it got relief it never asked for. In this regard, he said that the government would file a review petition, and it would be asked whether those who got relief even asked for it.