Federal govt decides to ban PTI as well as file references against Imran Khan, Dr. Arif Alvi, Qasim Suri for treason under Article 6

ISLAMABAD, July 15 (SABAH): 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, former president Dr. Arif Alvi for treason under Article 6 and then National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Khan Suri, adding that their passports and CNIC cards will be blocked and a parliamentary resolution would also be brought against them.

“PTI and Pakistan cannot co-exist,” Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar Advocate told a press conference in Islamabad, saying that the federal government would move the apex court to file a petition to ban the party.

The decisions, as per Attaullah 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).

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, Attaullah Tarar said that the PTI failed to explain and defend itself regarding the funds received by certain lobbies abroad, including Israeli ones.

Speaking about the time when the then-government decided to dissolve the assemblies during the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, the minister said the ruling alliance has also decided to move a reference against the then-prime minister, then-president Arif Alvi and then National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Khan Suri.

He said that this reference, under Article 6, will be sent to the Supreme Court of Pakistan after the cabinet’s approval.

Lambasting the former ruling party, Attaullah Tarar said that a perception has been made that the party is “untouchable” despite its leaders being involved in May 9 cases, iddat case or £190 million case.

“He [Khan] was the worst fascist leader. He inherited the pattern of putting mothers and sisters to jail,” said the PML-N leader.

The information minister, speaking about mending ties with the PTI, said that the government’s patience and tolerance were considered its weakness. “No more,” said Attaullah Tarar. “Enough is enough. They have played with the country’s fate too much,” he added.

“If this country’s economy is to prosper, if the people want to advance and if the youth wants jobs and if this country wants to stand with developed countries, then Pakistan and PTI cannot go along together,” Attaullah Tarar asserted.

Speaking about the SC verdict which favoured the PTI and said it is eligible for the allocation of the reserved seats, Attaullah Tarar said the PTI was not a party and its members did not say they are a part of it.

“Everyone submitted Sunni Ittehad Council’s affidavit but its manifesto says that no non-Muslim member can join the party, hence, they could not get a seat,” he highlighted.

Attaullah Tarar said that the view is that the PTI was given the relief without even asking. “Keeping in view the legal loophole in this judgment, the government and its allies have decided to file a review petition,” he added.

Stressing that the review petition against the SC judgment is justified, the minister said that the women and minorities, who suffered injustices, believe that this review petition should be filed.

“We will ask whether the MNAs who got relief were present in the court, were their affidavit present and did they ask for that relief and should the Election Act 2017 section be nullified,” said Attaullah Tarar.

“In view of the foreign funding case, May 9 riots, and the cipher episode as well as the resolution passed in the US, we believe that there is very credible evidence present to have the PTI banned,” he said.

He said that whether it was the foreign funding case, the riots of May 9, or the manipulation of the cipher saga, in which the former Pakistani ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed — who authored the cipher — clarified that there was “no threat”, the PTI continued decrying that the country was in danger.

“You tried to damage the country’s diplomatic relations for the sake of your political interests and went on to get a resolution passed against Pakistan in the US,” he said.

Attaullah Tarar also mentioned that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had proposed a Charter of Economy in the Parliament, but this gesture of wisdom was mistakenly perceived as a sign of weakness.

The information minister also questioned past government leaders’ engagements with Israeli businessmen during Palestinian conflicts.