LAHORE: Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Ishaq Dar on Tuesday said that no conclusive decision was taken yet on the government’s recent move to ban the PTI and such a step would only be decided by the leadership and its allies.
In its latest attempt to suppress the PTI, the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government on Monday announced that it had decided to ban the party and seek Article 6 proceedings against its founder Imran Khan, ex-president Dr Arif Alvi, and former National Assembly (NA) deputy speaker Qasim Suri.
The move appeared to be an attempt to prevent the PTI from becoming the single largest party in the NA as the announcement was made on the heels of relief given to the party by the top court in the reserved seats case as well as to the party chief in the Iddat case.
The move attracted flak from across the political spectrum, with the stakeholders calling the move undemocratic, which could have far-reaching ramifications if executed. Besides the PTI, leaders from other parties — including the PPP, Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, and Jamaat-i-Islami — criticised the decision.
Questioned about the matter while speaking to the media in Lahore today, DPM Dar said: “The information minister clearly said [that the decision to ban] will be made by leadership after [consultation] with allies.”
He said it was “proven” and the Election Commission of Pakistan had evidence present that the PTI was a “foreign-funded party”. “This is a reality which no one can deny,” he added.
Dar further said: “This decision [to ban the PTI] will obviously be looked at first by the leadership and after that, our allies will be consulted in accordance with the law and the Constitution. No decision will be taken here like those that are taken against the law and the Constitution.”
He reiterated to another question that “no decision has been taken yet.”
DPM Dar said the safety and security of the country should be sacrosanct above all else and anyone working against them was unacceptable. “The event of May 9 is unacceptable and whoever is involved in it should be punished as per the law and Constitution,” he added.
Meanwhile, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Bukhari said the party would give its own opinion after internal consultation and downplayed statements from other party leaders as their personal opinions.
He said Farhatullah Babar’s view on the issue was “not party policy”.
Bukhari said the PPP gave its opinion only through its spokespersons.
Earlier, PPP Information Secretary Shazia Marri said the party was not taken into confidence by the PML-N on the matter.
She said the party chairman was currently out of the country and the party would give its opinion after consultation.
Rana Sanaullah
Key political aide of the Prime Minister and senior PMLN leader Rana Sanaullah has said that the federal cabinet will finally decide whether to move a reference to the Supreme Court seeking a ban on PTI.
“The decision will be taken by the cabinet whether to do it or not,” Rana said when asked if the government has decided to ban the party as announced by the information minister in a press conference. Talking to The News, the PM’s Advisor on political affairs said that there are only two options available in the present situation. First is to hold dialogue, for which, he said, Imran Khan is not ready. The second option left is to use the government’s might to save the country from the negative politics of Imran Khan and the PTI.
Rana Sanaullah said that the PMLN has repeatedly invited the PTI for talks but Imran Khan remained rigid not to hold dialogue with his opponents both during his government and now when he is in jail and the political parties he is opposed to are in power. He said that recently the prime minister, during his speech in the National Assembly, even offered talks to the PTI but Imran Khan again said no. The PM’s advisor said the politics of Imran Khan-led PTI is damaging for Pakistan to which the government cannot afford to stay indifferent.