Country's history replete with political bans

The country’s political arena is once again ablaze with controversy as the government prepares to strike a decisive blow against its formidable adversary, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), aiming to wipe it off the political map with a sweeping ban.

The move, which has sparked scepticism from both allies and critics alike, raises crucial questions about its potential impact on the nation’s political landscape.

As parallels are being drawn to previous bans that have shaped the nation’s history, the decision has ignited a fiery debate over whether eliminating a key rival will secure victory for the ruling coalition and usher in much-needed political stability.

The timing of the government’s decision is also crucial as the decision to impose a ban on PTI and initiate Article 6 (high treason) proceedings against ex-PM Imran Khan, ex-President Dr Arif Alvi and ex-deputy speaker Qasim Suri for “unconstitutionally” dissolving the National Assembly back in April 2022 has come just after the Supreme Court pour cold water on the coalition government’s dream of exercising two-third majority in the assembly.

Just like today, such decisions have ignited fierce debates in the past as well, as seen when military dictator Ayub Khan had banned the Jamaat-e-Islami in the 1960s as “an unlawful association” and when PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had declared the largest opposition party, the National Awami Party, unlawful in the 1970s.

History shows that the Supreme Court had thrown out the ‘Maudoodi vs Government of Pakistan’ and upheld the ‘Pakistan vs Abdul Wali Khan’. In 1971, the then president General Yahya Khan had banned Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman’s Awami League.

Before that, the Communist Party of Pakistan was barred from functioning on charges of attempting to overthrow the ex-PM Liaquat Ali Khan’s government in 1954. During PTI’s era, the government outlawed the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz-Arisar (JSQM-A) and its two affiliate groups on the grounds that the organisations were involved in terrorism.

In 2021, PTI’s interior minister Sheikh Rasheed had banned the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on grounds of organizing violent protests, resulting in the killing of a few policemen. Reportedly, the then provincial government had requested the ban and the summary, after being approved by the federal cabinet, had resulted in the prohibition under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

Nevertheless, the reports added, TLP challenged the decision by filing a review seeking removal of the ban, adding that the party wasn’t delisted by ECP and it continued to take part in elections despite facing a ban. Later in October 2021, it added, the government lifted the ban.

‘Tried and failed formula’

“Banning political parties in Pakistan has been tried and failed,” Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador and currently a scholar at Washington DC’s Hudson Institute and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, said, “repeating it will do no good.”

In a post on X, the ex-envoy said that the establishment, which is regretting having formed the party, should let those who disagree with it fight it out in the political arena. “It will take time,” Haqqani said, “the competition will be tough but the result will be lasting.”