Punjab assembly. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD:
With the embattled opposition party in the crosshairs of intense state scrutiny, government ministers on Tuesday appeared to move closer to endorsing punitive measures against the PTI, including the possibility of a ban on the party and the imposition of governor’s rule in PTI-ruled Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, while the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution of the party’s leader in bank carcers.
The Punjab Assembly passed a resolution calling for a ban on the PTI founder and his party, accusing them of undermining national stability, promoting disorder and aligning with the country’s opponents.
The resolution was moved by PML-N MPA Tahir Parvez, who called for decisive action against leaders found guilty of making statements against the state, inciting unrest or weakening the country’s security framework.
“The institutions that protect Pakistan on all fronts and have successfully countered an enemy five times its size, such as India, are essential to the country’s integrity and stability,” the resolution said.
“A ban should be imposed on PTI and its founder, Imran Khan, for acting as a tool of the enemy state. He is also accused of making statements against the country and spreading chaos.”
The resolution further demanded that all such leaders, regardless of their political or non-political affiliation, be brought before the law and awarded punishment commensurate with their actions.
It also paid tribute to officers and personnel of institutions working for Pakistan’s stability and security, praising both their leadership and sacrifices.
Azma Bokhari
Warning that the government’s patience with the PTI was wearing thin, Information Minister Azma Bokhari said, hinting at the possibility of a ban on the latter, alleging that the PTI’s own actions were steadily narrowing the options available.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the minister spoke about speculations surrounding a possible ban on the PTI and imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying her own political instincts were against such measures.
“As a political worker, I do not support the banning of any party or the imposition of governor’s rule,” she said.
However, she warned that the prevailing circumstances could force the state’s hand. “Given the state of affairs, PTI is pushing us to go in that direction,” she added.
Bokhari drew attention to the deteriorating security situation in the PTI-led KP and said terrorism continued to plague the province while its police capacity remained inadequate.
“On the one hand, KP remains the most affected by terrorism, the police remain understaffed; they do not yet have a Crimes Control Department (CCD) and the police do not have the necessary equipment,” she said.
She argued that PTI’s rhetoric had moved beyond political opposition and now threatened national stability. “Pakistan [is being] put at stake, and if they do not stop, we are left with no other options”.
She also drew a parallel between jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and self-exiled MQM leader Altaf Hussain, whose speeches were barred by court order in 2015 for remarks against state institutions.
“He has the same politics as Altaf Hussain, who was still quite soft on his (Imran),” she said.
“I fear he may meet the same fate as Altaf Hussain.”
In an apparent reference to the Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, the Information Minister also accused the PTI of deliberately attacking the head of a state institution through sustained political attacks.
“If you’re going to start a campaign against the head of an institution, it won’t be long before it’s stopped,” she warned.
Elaborating on events of PTI’s time in power, Bokhari said Pakistan had suffered international isolation during the party’s tenure. In contrast, the country was now regaining its footing on the global stage.
“Pakistan is now on the right track and PTI cannot digest it because whatever is good for Pakistan…this group considers it as bad news.”
She maintained that Pakistan could no longer “run parallel to Imran’s politics,” adding that the government’s restraint was wearing thin.
“We have tolerated this for 2.5 years; there is a limit,” she said, describing the PTI as having become a “threat” to the country.
Attorney General Aqeel Malik
Separately, the minister, Attorney General Aqeel Malik, claimed that the party had allowed individual impulses to dictate its entire narrative and called for zero tolerance against targeted institutions.
He said that since 2011, a pattern of political ruthlessness had been set in motion.
The minister also justified the stand taken by state institutions in response to PTI’s politics and said the response was justified. He warned that every action inevitably provokes a reaction.
He questioned the rationale behind repeatedly singling out institutions, saying the situation had gone on long enough and needed to end.
He further claimed that there was “no difference” between PTI’s 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” as security personnel continued to sacrifice their lives.
He said the possibility of introducing 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 opposing counter-terrorism, arguing that such behavior made normal politics impossible.
Barrister Aqeel Malik also argued that the PTI itself was suffering under the leadership of its jailed founder, and claimed that even in Parliament, party members were seeking private ways out of the political deadlock.
He said the government did not believe in retaliatory politics and had never practiced it, but insisted that the consequences faced by the PTI were of its own making.
The minister urged the party to finally draw a clear line on where it stood, whether with Pakistan or with its enemies, and warned that anyone who obstructs Pakistan’s path to progress could not be considered loyal to the country.
Referring to the violent PTI protests on November 26, he said arriving with nail-studded sticks was “nothing short of terrorism” and could not be justified on any political pretext.
