Just days after the Supreme Court declared PTI a parliamentary party, the government announced plans to ban it and charge its founder with treason. Information Minister Ataullah Tarar revealed that the government will file a case to outlaw PTI and initiate high treason proceedings against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and other top leaders.
The Supreme Court’s decision, which granted PTI reserved seats for women and minorities, has sparked government outrage. Tarar stated that the ruling coalition would seek a review of this decision and take strict legal action against those conspiring from abroad and sabotaging the IMF bailout program.
The government accuses PTI of anti-state activities, including obtaining prohibited funding and sabotaging previous IMF deals. They allege Imran Khan used a diplomatic cable for personal gain and pushed the country towards economic default. The government plans to send a reference to the Supreme Court to invoke high treason charges related to the 2022 National Assembly dissolution.
Tarar also blamed PTI for the May 9 riots and for bringing back the Taliban to Pakistan, undermining the National Action Plan against terrorism. He played a leaked audio where Imran allegedly discussed manipulating the diplomatic cable, further accusing PTI of pressuring the National Accountability Bureau over corruption cases.
Meanwhile, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain urged a thorough review of the government’s decision to ban PTI, warning of significant political consequences. He emphasized the need for political forces to focus on the country’s economy and the common man’s hardships.
