The Pakistan government is considering banning former prime minister Imran Khan’s political party PTI, defence minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday, News18 reported.
He, however, said that the matter will be referred to the parliament for approval if the government finally decides to ban the former ruling party.
The move comes amid political instability in the country following Khan’s arrest on May 9 on corruption charges, before he walked free on bail on court orders.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan, who says the corruption charges have been concocted, is embroiled in a confrontation with the present government and state institutions.
“It is under consideration to ban PTI,” Asif told reporters. “The PTI has attacked the very basis of the state, that never happened before. It can’t be tolerated.”
The former PM’s arrest sparked widespread protests across the country. Army establishments and state buildings faced arson and vandalism.
PTI lawyer Ali Zafar said that even if such a decision is made, it is likely to be declared “null and void within a day” by the Supreme Court (SC) as a political party cannot be banned.
