Islamabad (National Times) Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Ishaq Dar on Tuesday said that no conclusive decision was taken yet on the government\u2019s recent move to ban the PTI and such a step would only be decided by the leadership and its allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In its latest attempt to suppress the PTI, the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government on Monday announced that it had decided to ban the party and seek Article 6 proceedings against its founder Imran Khan, ex-president Dr Arif Alvi, and former National Assembly (NA) deputy speaker Qasim Suri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The move appeared to be an attempt to prevent the PTI from becoming the single largest party in the NA as the announcement was made on the heels of relief given to the party by the top court in the reserved seats case as well as to the party chief in the Iddat case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The move attracted flak from across the political spectrum, with the stakeholders calling the move undemocratic, which could have far-reaching ramifications if executed. Besides the PTI, leaders from other parties \u2014 including the PPP, Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, and Jamaat-i-Islami \u2014 criticised the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Questioned about the matter while speaking to the media in Lahore today, DPM Dar said: \u201cThe information minister clearly said [that the decision to ban] will be made by leadership after [consultation] with allies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said it was \u201cproven\u201d and the Election Commission of Pakistan had evidence present that the PTI was a \u201cforeign-funded party\u201d. \u201cThis is a reality which no one can deny,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dar further said: \u201cThis decision [to ban the PTI] will obviously be looked at first by the leadership and after that, our allies will be consulted in accordance with the law and the Constitution. No decision will be taken here like those that are taken against the law and the Constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He reiterated to another question that \u201cno decision has been taken yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DPM Dar said the safety and security of the country should be sacrosanct above all else and anyone working against them was unacceptable. \u201cThe event of May 9 is unacceptable and whoever is involved in it should be punished as per the law and Constitution,\u201d he added.
PPP to give opinion after consultation
Meanwhile, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Bukhari said the party would give its own opinion after internal consultation and downplayed statements from other party leaders as their personal opinions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said Farhatullah Babar\u2019s view on the issue was \u201cnot party policy\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bukhari said the PPP gave its opinion only through its spokespersons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier, PPP Information Secretary Shazia Marri said the party was not taken into confidence by the PML-N on the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said the party chairman was currently out of the country and the party would give its opinion after consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
US expresses \u2019 deep concern\u2019
US Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller commented on the development in the State Department\u2019s daily news briefing yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur understanding is this is the beginning of what will be a complex political process,\u201d he said, \u201cBut certainly banning a political concern is something \u2014 or a political party is something that would be of great concern to us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Miller said the US supports \u201cthe peaceful upholding of constitutional and democratic principles, including respect for human rights and freedom of expression\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the US supported democratic processes such as the rule of and equal justice under the law, adding that Washington will continue to \u201cmonitor the \u2014 these decisions and further decision \u2014 any further decisions by the courts\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Miller also discussed political violence, given the recent attempt on Republican Candidate Donald Trump\u2019s life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While answering a question from a journalist who compared the recent incident to the assassination attempt on incarcerated leader Imran Khan\u2019s life in November 2022, Miller said that the US abhors \u201cpolitical violence in any country, including Pakistan, and have spoke out against it and condemned it\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd we support the rule of law in Pakistan and every country in the world, and we want to see respect for democratic principles and people\u2019s fundamental human rights and democratic rights upheld,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad (National Times) Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Ishaq Dar on Tuesday said that no conclusive decision was taken yet on the government\u2019s recent move to ban the PTI and such a step would only be decided by the leadership and its allies. In its latest attempt to suppress the PTI, the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":85858,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n