Punjab Assembly. PHOTO: ARCHIVE
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD:
With the embattled opposition party in the crosshairs of intense state scrutiny, government ministers on Tuesday appeared to move closer to backing punitive measures against the PTI, including the possibility of a ban on the party and the imposition of one-governor rule in PTI-ruled Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, while the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution seeking to ban the jailed party leader.
The Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution calling for the banning of the PTI founder and his party, accusing them of undermining national stability, promoting disorder and acting in alignment with the country’s adversaries.
The resolution was moved by PML-N MPA Tahir Parvez, who urged decisive action against leaders found guilty of making statements against the state, fomenting unrest or weakening the country’s security framework.
“Institutions that safeguard Pakistan on all fronts and have successfully countered an enemy five times its size, such as India, are vital to the integrity and stability of the country,” the resolution said.
“A ban should be imposed on PTI and its founder Imran Khan for acting as a tool of the enemy state. It is also accused of making statements against the country and wreaking havoc.”
The resolution further demanded that all such leaders, regardless of their political or non-political affiliations, be prosecuted in accordance with the law and given punishment commensurate with their actions.
He also paid tribute to officials and staff of institutions working for the stability and security of Pakistan, praising both their leadership and sacrifices.
Azma Bokhari
Warning that the government’s patience with the PTI was running out, Information Minister Azma Bokhari said and hinted at the possibility of a ban on the latter, claiming that the PTI’s own actions were steadily reducing the available options.
At a press conference in Lahore, the minister addressed speculation surrounding a possible ban on the PTI and the imposition of one-governor rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying her own political instincts ran against such measures.
“As a political worker, I do not support banning any party or imposing the governor’s government,” she said.
However, he warned that the prevailing circumstances could force the State to act. “Considering the situation, the PTI is pushing us to go in that direction,” he added.
Bokhari drew attention to the deteriorating security situation in the PTI-led KP, saying terrorism continued to plague the province while its police capacity remained inadequate.
“On the one hand, KP remains the country most affected by terrorism, the police are understaffed, they still do not have a Crime Control Department (CCD) and the police are underequipped,” he said.
He argued that the PTI’s rhetoric had gone beyond the political opposition and was now endangering national stability. “Pakistan [is being] are at stake, and if they don’t stop, we will have no other options.
He also drew a parallel between jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and self-exiled MQM leader Altaf Hussain, whose speeches were banned by court order in 2015 after comments against state institutions.
“He has the same policies as Altaf Hussain, which were still quite soft compared to his (Imran),” he said.
“I fear he may suffer the same fate as Altaf Hussain.”
In an apparent reference to Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, the Information Minister also accused the PTI of deliberately targeting the head of a state institution through sustained political attacks.
“If a campaign is going to be launched against the director of an institution, it will not be long until it is put to an end,” he warned.
Bringing up events from the PTI’s time in power, Bokhari said Pakistan had suffered international isolation during the party’s rule. Instead, the country was regaining its position on the world stage.
“Pakistan is now on the right track and the PTI cannot digest it because anything that is good for Pakistan…this group considers it bad news.”
He argued that Pakistan could no longer “run parallel to Imran’s policy”, adding that the government’s restraint was wearing thin.
“We have tolerated this for two and a half years; there is a limit,” he said, describing the PTI as having become a “threat” to the country.
State lawyer Aqeel Malik
On the other hand, Minister of State, Lawyer Aqeel Malik, alleged that the party had allowed individual impulses to dictate its entire narrative and called for zero tolerance for attacking institutions.
He said that since 2011 a pattern of political recklessness had been set in motion.
The minister also justified the stance of state institutions towards the PTI policy, stating that the response was justified. He warned that every action inevitably provokes a reaction.
He questioned the rationale behind repeatedly singling out institutions and said the situation had gone on long enough and needed to end.
He further claimed that there was “no difference” between the PTI narrative and the one circulating on Indian and Afghan social media platforms. He urged the party not to drag the armed forces into a “dirty political game” while security personnel continued to sacrifice their lives.
He said the option of imposing governor’s rule in KP was being seriously considered, blaming the former prime minister for allowing terrorism to gain ground in the province.
He went on to accuse the PTI of obstructing intelligence-based operations and resisting counterterrorism efforts, arguing that such conduct made normal politics impossible.
Lawyer Aqeel Malik also argued that the PTI itself was suffering under the leadership of its imprisoned founder, claiming that even within parliament, party members privately sought ways out of the political impasse.
He said the government did not believe in retaliation policy and had never practiced it, but insisted that the consequences faced by the PTI were its fault.
The minister urged the party to finally draw a clear line on its position, be it with Pakistan or its enemies, and warned that anyone who obstructs Pakistan’s path to progress cannot be considered loyal to the country.
Referring to the violent PTI protests on November 26, he said coming with sticks full of nails was “nothing short of terrorism” and could not be justified under any political pretext.
