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.
