The federal government decided on Monday to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

This was announced by Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar in a press conference today. He said the government will file a case in this regard.

“PTI and Pakistan cannot co-exist,” Tarar.

“In view of the foreign funding case, May 9 riots, and the cipher episode as well as the resolution passed in the US, we believe that there is very credible evidence present to have the PTI banned,” he said.

He further said the federal government will also file references against PTI founder Imran Khan and former president Dr Arif Alvi for treason under Article 6.

“The reference, under Article 6 will be sent to the Supreme Court after being approved by the cabinet,” Tarar said.

“Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or hold in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance the Constitution by use of force or show force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason,” Article 6 of the Constitution says.

Moreover, Tarar also announced the government’s decision to submit a review petition before the Supreme Court (SC) against its verdict which declared that PTI would be eligible for reserved seats for women and minorities.

In its verdict, the SC declared PTI party eligible for seats reserved for women and minorities. The SC bench held that the PTI was and is a political party, which secured or won general seats in the National and Provincial Assemblies in the General Elections of 2024.

Political parties are voice of people: PTI

Reacting to the government’s decision, PTI said political parties are the voice of the people and banning “the country’s largest party” would be tantamount to uprooting the foundations of Pakistan.

“It is neither possible nor can any fool expect any positive result from crushing the most popular political party with blind force,” PTI said in a post shared on X.

Decision to ban PTI unconstitutional, HRCP says

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Monday said it was “shocked by the government’s decision to ban the PTI”.

“Not only is this move in flagrant violation of party members’ right to association under Article 17 of the Constitution, but it is also an enormous blow to democratic norms, especially when the Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the PTI is a political party,” the commission said in a post shared on X.

PML-N files review petition in SC against reserved seats verdict

The HRCP demanded that the “unconstitutional decision” be withdrawn immediately.

“If pushed through, it will achieve nothing more than deeper polarisation and the strong likelihood of political chaos and violence.

“No government can afford to have a selective memory and conveniently forget the consequences of banning or demonising political parties lest it find itself on the receiving end of such measures,” HRCP said.

Govt decision requires SC’s full court endorsement: lawyer

Lawyer Abdul Moiz Jaferii wrote on X that the government declaring a party to be foreign aided or operating against the sovereign interests of Pakistan carries “no weight until the Supreme Court (full court) endorses it”.