A plan to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over May 9 arson and vandalism is under consideration which was confirmed Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday in a media talk here in Islamabad.
Violent protests erupted across the country following arrest of Imran Khan on May 9, while mob’s aggressions and vandalism of military installments also reported in the media as well as on social media.
The violence and destruction reached alarming levels, with the state broadcaster, Radio Pakistan’s building in Peshawar, being set on fire during the protests.
Expressing strong condemnation, both the civil and military leadership of Pakistan denounced the “violence” and declared May 9 as a “Black Day.” They resolved to prosecute all those involved in the disturbances as “miscreants” under army and anti-terrorism laws.
The government’s consideration of banning the PTI reflects the gravity of the situation and their determination to address the aftermath of the protests. The decision, if implemented, would have significant implications for the PTI, a prominent political party in Pakistan.
“A decision has not been taken yet [on the ban], but a review is surely underway.” said the defence minister while talking to media persons.
He indicated that if the government decided to ban the PTI, the matter would be referred to the Parliament for approval.
According to Asif, the “violence” and acts of vandalism targeting military establishments were part of a meticulously planned campaign orchestrated by Imran Khan.
The Defence Minister claimed that there was substantial evidence suggesting that PTI members had prior knowledge of the protests.
Imran’s political motives had suffered setbacks, leading him to resort to such extreme measures against the country’s army, he said while accusing Imran of displaying hypocrisy by turning against the very institution he had relied on throughout his political career.
When questioned about the grounds for banning the PTI, Asif pointed out the wide range of crimes committed during the May 9 protests.
He cited incidents such as the attack on the ISI office, an attempted breach of the Sialkot Cantonment (repulsed by security forces), and the setting ablaze of the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence.
Asif asserted that these actions challenged the foundation of the state by targeting defense installations and insinuated that they were orchestrated by external forces.
He claimed that the neighbouring country celebrated the events of May 9.
The Defence Minister acknowledged the validity of the army’s reservations regarding the violence and stated that the current situation necessitated a proactive response.
He assured that the coalition government would take necessary steps to prevent future incidents that could potentially endanger the armed forces.
Asif also mentioned that May 25 would be commemorated to pay tribute to the country’s martyrs, emphasizing that honoring martyrs was a global norm. He criticized Imran Khan for failing to condemn the violence explicitly, alleging that Imran had foreseen the reaction and warned that similar incidents would occur if he were arrested.
