ISLAMABAD: Upping the ante against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the federal government has decided to ban the former ruling party as well as file references against PTI founder Imran Khan and former president Arif Alvi for treason under Article 6.
“The PTI and Pakistan cannot co-exist,” Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told a press conference in Islamabad, saying that the matter would go to the federal cabinet and the Supreme Court.
The decisions, as per Tarar, were taken in light of the former ruling party’s involvement in the May 9 events and the PTI’s former or current leaders’ attempts to sabotage Pakistan’s deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The development comes following PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s indictment in cases related to the May 9 riots and Khan’s arrest in cases pertaining to the incidents taking place on the day.
Touching upon the foreign funding issue, the information minister said that the PTI failed to defend itself in the foreign funding case wherein, he claimed, the ex-ruling party received funds from Indian-born United States citizens.
“Why did you [PTI] seek a stay order [in said case] for six years?” he questioned, adding that the Khan-founded party had nothing to say in its defence.
Stressing that whoever provides financial support to a political party, does so with the hopes that the party would serve its interests if it comes to power, Tarar said that the PTI failed to explain and defend itself regarding the funds received by certain lobbies abroad, including Israeli ones.
Reflecting on the May 9 riots, triggered after Khan’s arrest in a graft case wherein party workers and supporters vandalised several military installations, the minister said that the PTI founder targeted national interests for his own personal ones.
“Your whole family was involved in those attacks. Your three sisters were present outside the [Lahore] core commander’s house,” he said.
He also censured the PTI’s government for allegedly providing safe havens to terrorists and resettle them.
“Who gave you the right to re-settle the Taliban […] and attack the institution that is responsible for guaranteeing the country’s sovereignty,” he noted.
