Pakistan Govt Announces Ban on Ex-PM Imran Khan's Political Party
© AP Photo / K.M. Chaudary
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Since Imran Khan was incarcerated last year, his party's activities have reportedly been suppressed by the government.
The Pakistani government on Monday announced a ban on former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, according to the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar.
"In view of the foreign funding case, May 9 riots, the cipher episode, as well as the resolution passed in the US, we believe that there is very credible evidence present to have Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) banned," Tarar told reporters during a briefing.
He added that the PTI will be outlawed according to Article 17 of the country’s Constitution, and the matter will be referred to the Supreme Court.
Earlier this month, the Pakistan Supreme Court declared that Khan’s political outfit would be eligible for seats reserved for women and minorities based on its numerical strength, making PTI the biggest party in the National Assembly (NA).
Previously, the PTI was denied representation on reserved seats by the Election Commission of Pakistan, as its candidates did not contest the 2024 parliamentary polls on the party's election symbol.
Instead, the reserved seats were distributed among the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the two largest constituents of the current coalition ruling the South Asian state.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court judgment also had a direct bearing on the status of the Sharif-led alliance government, as it would lose its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.
Earlier this month, the Pakistan Supreme Court declared that Khan’s political outfit would be eligible for seats reserved for women and minorities based on its numerical strength, making PTI the biggest party in the National Assembly (NA).
Previously, the PTI was denied representation on reserved seats by the Election Commission of Pakistan, as its candidates did not contest the 2024 parliamentary polls on the party's election symbol.
Instead, the reserved seats were distributed among the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the two largest constituents of the current coalition ruling the South Asian state.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court judgment also had a direct bearing on the status of the Sharif-led alliance government, as it would lose its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.
