By News Desk
ISLAMABAD: The federal government had decided to move the Supreme Court to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), announced Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Monday, claiming the party was involved in anti-state activities.
The Article 17 of the Constitution empowers the federal government to ban a political party, the minister told a news conference here. “PTI and Pakistan cannot co-exist,” he said, maintaining that there is credible evidence to support a ban on the PTI.
He cited the party’s alleged involvement in foreign funding, the May 9 violence, its role in the resettlement of terrorists in Pakistan, the cipher episode, and the resolution passed in the United States, the Radio Pakistan reported.
Tarar said a reference will be filed under Article 6 against former president Arif Alvi, former prime minister Imran Khan, and former deputy speaker Qasim Suri for violating the Constitution when the assemblies were dissolved following the no-confidence motion against the PTI government. He said the reference would be forwarded to the Supreme Court after approval by the federal cabinet.
Tarar said there are certain lobbies sitting abroad which promote an anti-Pakistan agenda, support separatist movements and conspire against the country’s security and institutions. He said the government has decided to take strict legal action against them, which may involve blocking their passports and identity cards.
The minister said the government and its allied parties have also decided to file a review petition against Supreme Court’s judgment in the reserved seats case.He emphasised that the judgment has legal lacunae and that they have strong legal grounds to file the review. He pointed out the PTI had not sought relief in the case.
He said the government will complete all these processes while remaining within the domain of law and Constitution. He said these matters will be taken forward so that in future nobody could dare to violate the Constitution, hurt national interests and attack the defence institutions.