Minister Says PTI Ban Needs Institutions’ Approval

Ban on PTI Awaits Institutional Decision, Says Ahsan Iqbal

• Government considers ban on PTI following May 9 riots and IMF deal disruption.
• Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasizes legal scrutiny before moving forward.
• PTI urged to apologize for its actions to find a path forward.

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has indicated that the ban on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) could be implemented once the relevant institutions have gathered sufficient evidence and believe they have a strong case under the law and the Constitution. His comments follow the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government’s recent decision to ban PTI, citing the party’s alleged involvement in the May 9 riots and attempts to disrupt Pakistan’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Minister Iqbal stated that any decision to ban PTI must withstand legal scrutiny, which is why the interior ministry’s institutions are carefully assessing the evidence. He emphasized that PTI’s actions have been detrimental to the state’s interests and suggested that the party should apologize to state institutions and the public to potentially find a way forward.

The government had previously announced its intention to ban PTI after the Supreme Court’s ruling on July 12, which declared PTI eligible for reserved seats in the assemblies. Following this decision, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) notified 93 PTI lawmakers in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh assemblies as returned candidates.

In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, the government introduced the Election Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to prevent lawmakers from changing their affiliation later. The bill has been approved by the Parliamentary Affairs Committee with the support of eight members.

Despite the looming ban, the government has offered to hold talks with PTI. However, PTI’s founder, Imran Khan, has expressed a preference for engaging with the military, suggesting they nominate a representative for discussions. Minister Iqbal criticized Khan’s approach, stating that while Khan claims to advocate for civilian supremacy, he is inviting military intervention in politics.

When questioned about the government’s seemingly contradictory stance—offering talks while considering a ban—Iqbal clarified that the government seeks a change in PTI’s conduct and an apology, which could pave the way for the party’s return to national politics.