‘Malicious plan’ leaves PTI breathing fire

Gohar, Omar, Shibli say banning their party ‘not a child’s play’

ISLAMABAD:

In a blistering response to the government’s announcement of a potential ban on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), its top leadership warned that such a move would not be a child’s play, rather it could “uproot the foundations of the country”.

Hours after Information Minister Attaullah Tarar revealed the government’s plan to ban the PTI, opposition leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, opposition leader in the Senate Shibli Faraz and PTI Chairman Gohar Khan addressed a joint press conference.

They strongly condemned the government’s “malicious plan to ban the country’s most popular and largest political force”, saying that the talk of banning the PTI was a diversionary tactic.

Barrister Gohar stated that the Supreme Court in its historic decision on reserved seats last week categorically declared the PTI as a political party, adding that the coalition government was doing all “this to cover up its embarrassment”.

“We demand that Article 6 [constitutional provision regarding high treason] be applied against those who commit unconstitutional acts while in power,” he demanded. He added that the government would gain nothing from going for a review of the SC ruling.

Omar Ayub said that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) hatched a conspiracy during its three-day huddle in Murree. “Currently, only the PML-N posed a threat to national security. Assets of its leadership are stashed abroad.”

He demanded that other coalition parties, especially the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) clearly state their stance on democracy and civil martial law.

Senate Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz warned that the PTI was the largest and most popular political force in the country and its founder Imran Khan the most popular leader. “It is not a child’s play to ban the PTI,” he said.

He said that “this puppet government” could not take important decisions. He also said that government’s steps would trigger a tsunami of inflation and economic instability, as the dollar would jump to Rs350 in the coming days.

Meanwhile, in a post on X, the party declared: “No patriot can think of banning the largest and most popular party of the country, as doing so would be tantamount to uprooting the foundations of Pakistan and sending the country towards civil war.”

PTI’s Acting Punjab President Hammad Azhar denounced the move, saying that a sit-in was going on in Islamabad but the government was attempting to ban the PTI. “The establishment is going by the old playbook, but times have now changed,” he said.

In a separate video message, Faraz accused the government of acting out of fear following the Supreme Court’s decision in favour of the PTI. “You can try this tactic, go ahead,” he said.

Criticising the government for being more focused on PTI founder rather than the pressing issues facing the country, he said: “Unfortunately, the country is in the hands of people who are neither capable nor eligible to run it.”

PTI Senator Barrister Ali Zafar dismissed the notion of banning the party under Article 6, stating that the government lacked the authority to do so, and that local courts would block any such attempt.

He criticised the escalation by the government following the court’s decision on the reserved seats, saying it had left the government “shocked and homeless”. He declared: “This is completely unfair and we reject it.”

Former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser expressed his disbelief at the government’s decision, noting that they had used “every possible tactic against” the PTI. “They are making daily mistakes and are in disarray,” he said.

Qaiser added that the Supreme Court’s decision had left the government without a leg to stand on. “Our struggle is constitutional and lawful. We will continue to fight on every front,” he asserted.