The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the ruling party in the country, looked confused on the issue of banning imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party.
The action has been criticised by friends and foes of the PML-N and its leaders sent mixed signals. In the party, the cracks were also visible as a senior leader opposed the decision. Leaving everyone in limbo, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar stated that no decision had been made in the first place.
However, at a press conference in his hometown, Sialkot, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was seen trying to justify the ban. He defended his government’s decision. However, he added that the decision (to ban the PTI party) would be placed before the Parliament after having a word with all allied parties.
On Wednesday, the Express Tribune newspaper reported that one member of the PML-N claimed that the summary to try PTI leaders for treason under Article 6 had already been moved to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
On Monday, the Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan government decided to ban the Tehreek-e-Insaaf party on charges of illegally receiving foreign funds, involvement in riots, and its alleged involvement in “anti-state” activities.
Also, the Sharif government has threatened to slap treason charges on ex-pm Imran Khan (71) as well as on former president Arif Alvi (74) among others.