Pakistani government on Monday announced its intention to ban Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the political party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar made the announcement, just days after the Supreme Court granted a significant legal victory to the PTI by declaring it eligible for a share of reserved seats in national and provincial assemblies.
“The government has decided to ban PTI after reviewing all the available evidence. We will file a case to ban the party,” Tarar stated, citing accusations including incitement of violent protests last year and leaking classified information. He added that the case would be brought to the Supreme Court.
Tarar also revealed plans to bring treason charges against Khan and two other senior party leaders—former President Arif Alvi and ex-Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Suri. Additionally, the government intends to file a review appeal against the Supreme Court’s ruling that mandated the PTI be allotted some assembly seats reserved for women and members of religious minorities.
In response, Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, a senior PTI leader and party spokesperson, told Al Jazeera that the government’s decision “betrays their complete panic.”
“After realizing that they cannot threaten or blackmail the courts and judges any longer, they have decided to make this move via the cabinet. All their attempts to stop us have been declared illegal by the courts,” Bukhari said.