Pakistan’s information minister Attaullah Tarar announced on Monday that the government intends to ban former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and press treason charges against Khan. Tarar mentioned that there is substantial evidence to justify the ban, citing PTI’s involvement in the May 9 riots, the cipher case, and issues related to foreign funding. According to Article 6 of the Pakistani Constitution, such charges could have severe implications for Khan and his political allies.
The decision to ban PTI is rooted in the provisions of Article 17 of the Pakistani Constitution, which allows the government to refer a political party to the Supreme Court if it deems the party to be acting against the sovereignty of Pakistan. Furthermore, Section 212(3) of the Election Act 2017 mandates that such a party can only be dissolved if the Supreme Court upholds the government’s declaration.
In addition to the potential ban, the government is also seeking to charge Khan with treason over his controversial decision in April 2022 to dissolve the National Assembly to avoid a no-confidence vote. The court ruled that this action was illegal, adding another layer of complexity to Khan’s legal entanglements. Former PTI President Arif Alvi and former National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri also face similar charges.
Khan’s adviser, Zulfikar Bukhari, condemned the government’s decisions, likening them to “soft martial law.” He argued that the move was indicative of the government’s panic, alleging that PTI’s lobbying efforts with American politicians and the International Monetary Fund spurred this drastic response. In an official statement, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) criticized the government’s plan as unconstitutional and urged its immediate withdrawal.
The announcement comes on the heels of the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision to overturn Khan and his wife’s conviction for unlawfully marrying before the completion of the prescribed period after his wife’s previous divorce. Khan is also embroiled in more than 150 legal cases, ranging from accusations of inciting violence to various corruption charges. More on this development can be found here.