The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf called on the allies of the ruling coalition led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to clear their stance over the government’s decision to ban the former ruling party.
The PTI’s statement comes hours after the federal government Monday announced imposing a ban on the PTI after filing references against ex-prime minister Imran Khan and former president Arif Alvi for allegedly committing treason under Article 6.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced the government’s upcoming move while addressing a press conference in Islamabad earlier today, saying that the matter would be discussed in the federal cabinet before filing of the reference in the Supreme Court.
The information minister said the decisions were taken in light of the former ruling party’s alleged involvement in the May 9 riots and the PTI’s former or current leaders’ attempts to sabotage Pakistan’s deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Reacting to the government’s decision, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, addressing a press conference Monday, demanded invoking Article 6 of the Constitution against those who undertook the unconstitutional steps.
The party leadership also condemned the federal government’s decision to ban the Imran Khan-led party.
Speaking on the occasion, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan claimed the allies of the ruling coalition, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), do not stand by the government in its potential move to ban the party.
“We call on the PPP and the MQM-P to clarify their position as the ANP has already clarified its position on the issue,” he added.
All other democratic parties should clarify their position on the government’s “unconstitutional” step, Ayub said. “Are they standing by democracy or civil martial law?”
More to follow…
