Pakistan is considering a ban on the political party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), according to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. This move stems from several reasons, including the confirmed allegation that PTI received foreign funds from illegal sources within Pakistan, and the violent actions by the party's leaders and followers that targeted military facilities last year.
Tarar announced that the federal government intends to file a case to outlaw the PTI, with potential escalation to the cabinet and the Supreme Court if necessary. Despite being disqualified from participating in the February 8 elections, PTI candidates ran as independents. The Supreme Court recently granted the party eligibility for over 20 additional reserved parliamentary seats, intensifying pressure on the nation's fragile coalition government.
The implications of the proposed ban on the court's decision regarding the reserved seats remain uncertain. Tarar also mentioned that the government plans to challenge the reserved seats decision legally. Imran Khan, who has been in jail since August, was acquitted last Saturday along with his third wife on charges of unlawful marriage, but he remains in custody due to new arrest warrants issued against him. Khan rose to power in 2018 but was removed in 2022 following disagreements with Pakistan's influential military.
