Islamabad, July 18: In a significant development, Pakistan’s government is pushing to outlaw the party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. This decision follows a recent ruling by the Supreme Court that elevated Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to the largest party in parliament.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that the government intends to pursue treason charges against Khan, who was ousted from power via a no-confidence vote in 2022 and subsequently arrested in August 2023 amidst widespread public demonstrations.
The move to ban PTI stems from allegations that Khan’s supporters engaged in violence targeting military installations following his arrest on corruption charges last year and amidst accusations of foreign funding irregularities.
Despite a crackdown, PTI garnered significant voter support in the February elections, contesting under independent labels due to earlier restrictions, and alleging widespread electoral fraud in favour of the ruling party. The Supreme Court’s recent decision awarded PTI additional parliamentary seats reserved for women and minorities.
Several legal cases against Khan, including a conviction overturned on procedural grounds, have been suspended. His close aide, Sayed Zulfi Bukhari, criticized the government’s actions as a step towards authoritarianism, highlighting a perceived inability to influence the judiciary.
Local NGO Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned the proposed PTI ban as unconstitutional and detrimental to democratic principles, especially following the Supreme Court’s affirmation of PTI’s political legitimacy.
PTI MP Sheikh Waqas Akram accused the government of exacerbating political instability following the court’s ruling, alleging an illegitimate grip on power and signaling broader discontent within the political landscape.
This move sets the stage for further legal and political confrontations in Pakistan, underscoring tensions between the government and opposition forces amid ongoing democratic challenges.