Balochistan Assembly approves resolution calling for PTI ban

In a session marked by sharp divisions, the Balochistan Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution, introduced by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), calling for a ban on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) following violent protests that erupted earlier this week.

The resolution, backed by provincial ministers including Mir Saleem Ahmad Khosa, Mir Sadiq Umrani, and Raheela Hamid Khan Durrani, condemned the PTI’s actions during its three-day protest in Islamabad, which ended abruptly in the early hours of Wednesday. 

The resolution linked the protest to previous violent events, specifically the May 9 riots following PTI leader Imran Khan’s arrest and accused the party of continuing its "anarchist agenda," which it claimed has destabilised Pakistan’s judiciary, media, and economy.

"The PTI’s violent actions are harmful to the country’s system," the resolution read, urging the federal government to take immediate action to ban the party.

The opposition parties staged a walkout, accusing the ruling PML-N of unfairly targeting PTI. National Party President Dr Abdul Malik Baloch criticised the motion, warning that it could set a dangerous precedent for banning other political parties, including the PPP and PML-N.

Veteran nationalist leader Nawab Aslam Raisani also voiced opposition, calling for a "level-playing field" for all political parties and stressing the importance of dialogue over punitive measures. Raisani urged the federal government to release Imran Khan, whose arrest has been a central trigger for the protests.

The recent unrest in Islamabad, which saw thousands of PTI supporters defy a government-imposed ban, led to violent clashes with security forces. Nearly 1,000 arrests were made, and PTI leader Salman Akram Raja claimed that at least 20 people had lost their lives during the protests. 

The PTI has vowed to challenge the government's actions in court, particularly focusing on the Ministry of Interior and its handling of the protest.

Islamabad’s police chief, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, denied reports of live ammunition being used during the crackdown, stating that 600 protesters had been arrested in a Tuesday operation, bringing the total number of arrests to 954 since the protests began.