Cabinet to finally decide on banning PTI, says Sanaullah

ISLAMABAD: 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.

Earlier in the day, the information minister announced that the government has decided to ban the PTI and seek Article 6 proceedings against Imran Khan, Dr Arif Alvi and Qasim Suri. This announcement of the government came three days after the Supreme Court gave relief to the PTI in the reserve seats case. The Supreme Court’s decision will revive the PTI in the national and provincial assemblies. The government’s decision to ban the PTI appears to be a frustrated move to pre-empt the apex court’s decision.

Interestingly, the government’s desire to ban the PTI will also be dependent on the decision of the apex court, which under the law decides such matters upon the receipt of a reference from the government. According to the information minister, given the foreign funding case, May 9 riots, and the cipher episode as well as the resolution passed in the US, the government believes that there is very credible evidence present to have the PTI banned.

However, the timing of such a move coincides with the Supreme Court’s decision. Independent observers believe that the judiciary, which is already giving relief to Imran Khan and the PTI in different cases, may not ban the PTI as per the government’s expectations.