In a significant political development, the government has decided to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and plans to submit a formal petition to the Supreme Court to enact this prohibition. This announcement was made by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar during a press conference on Monday. Tarar asserted that for Pakistan to achieve its development goals, it cannot coexist with the PTI.
Tarar outlined several key reasons behind the government’s decision to seek a ban on PTI. Among these reasons are the ongoing foreign funding case, the alleged cipher from the United States, attempts to undermine the previous International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, and an anti-Pakistan resolution passed in the American Congress. According to Tarar, these instances serve as “clear evidence” for the necessity of banning the party.
The Information Minister emphasized that under Article 17 of the Constitution, the government possesses the authority to prohibit political parties. He argued that the evidence against PTI, including illegal funding and efforts to sabotage the IMF deal, justifies this drastic measure. The government claims that PTI’s actions have been detrimental to the country’s economic stability and international standing.
Supreme Court Review and Reserved Seats Controversy
In addition to the petition to ban PTI, Tarar announced the government’s intention to file a review petition concerning the Supreme Court’s previous ruling on reserved seats. The ruling, which allegedly provided undue relief to PTI, is being questioned by the government. Tarar stated that the review aims to clarify whether those who submitted affidavits actually sought the relief that was granted by the court.
The Information Minister also raised concerns about the parliament’s authority to interpret and amend the Constitution. He affirmed that the government would present robust constitutional arguments in the review petition to challenge the Supreme Court’s decision. Tarar claimed that there is incontrovertible evidence of illegal funding received by PTI, including financial contributions from India, which further underscores the necessity of the ban.
Reference Under Article 6 Against Former PTI Leaders
In a further escalation of the government’s actions against PTI, Tarar revealed plans to file a reference under Article 6 of the Constitution against key figures of the former PTI government. This reference targets former President Arif Alvi, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and former Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri. The charges pertain to the alleged unlawful dissolution of the National Assembly by the former PTI government.
Tarar announced that the federal cabinet would approve the reference before it is sent to the Supreme Court. The government contends that the actions of the former PTI leaders constituted a violation of the Constitution, warranting legal repercussions. This move signals the government’s determination to hold PTI accountable for what it perceives as serious breaches of law and governance.