ISLAMABAD: In a tit-for-tat move, the main opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), without naming the ruling PML-N, called for the invocation of Article 6 of the Constitution against those responsible for unconstitutional actions, despite the existence of the country’s constitutional framework.
The party urged allies of the ruling coalition to clearly state their stance regarding the potential ban on the former ruling party announced by Information Minister Atta Tarar earlier today.
Information Minister Atta Tarar stated that the government plans to ban PTI and initiate treason cases against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and ex-President Arif Alvi under Article 6 of the Constitution.
During a press conference in Islamabad on Monday, PTI leadership also criticized the federal government’s decision to contemplate banning Imran Khan’s party.
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, said that coalition allies, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), are not supporting the government’s possible ban on PTI. “We urge the PPP and MQM-P to clarify their stance, as ANP has already done,” he added.
Omar emphasized that all democratic parties should disclose their positions on whether they endorse the government’s “unconstitutional” actions, questioning whether they stand for democracy or support a form of civil martial law.
Another Senator Barrister Ali Zafar said that no one, including the Supreme Court, would ever accept the decision of proscribing the PTI.
“It is foolish to say that the PTI is working against the sovereignty of Pakistan. The government just wants to stifle democracy in Pakistan. We haven’t thought they would stoop to this extent,” PTI leader Salman Akram Raja said.
Political Parties React to Govt Decision
Senior leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Awam Pakistan Party (APP), and Awami National Party (ANP) have united in opposition to the government’s proposal to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi criticized the government, stating it lacks the mandate to ban a political party. He warned that if Article 6 were invoked against anyone, current government officials could also face similar scrutiny.
Within the PPP, senior leaders Farhatullah Babar and Raza Rabbani openly opposed the decision and expressed surprise at Atta Tarar’s suggestion of ally consultation.
ANP Senator Arbab Umar Farooq Kasi underscored that banning political parties goes against democratic principles. He urged all parties to focus on strengthening democracy instead of engaging in internal discord.
Kasi stressed the government’s responsibility to protect democracy from disruption, advocating for political solutions to current challenges rather than escalating tensions through force.
