The federal government’s attempt to ban the PTI has faced criticism from all sides of the political spectrum, with stakeholders labeling the move as undemocratic and warning of severe consequences if implemented.
In addition to the PTI, leaders from various parties—including the PPP, Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, and Jamaat-i-Islami—have denounced the decision.
During a press conference, PTI leaders described the ban as a reaction to the government’s “embarrassment” following the Supreme Court’s decision to restore reserved seats to PTI, making it the largest party in the lower house of parliament.
Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub Khan, accompanied by party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and other leaders, accused the government of attempting to intimidate 240 million people through coercion and harassment. He asserted that PTI would not be intimidated and would continue to fight those “hell-bent on plunging the country into destruction and anarchy.”
They argued that it was impossible to crush the most popular political party through force and that no positive outcome could be expected from such actions.
PPP Disowns Move
Meanwhile, the PPP distanced itself from the potential PTI ban, stating its leadership was not consulted. PPP stalwart Khursheed Shah emphasized that political issues should be addressed through political means and awaited the court’s decision, affirming his support for his party’s policy.
Former PPP senator Mian Raza Rabbani criticized the government’s talk of banning a political party, calling it undemocratic and urging the government to refrain from such actions. He warned that the country, already facing economic and political instability, would only see further chaos and economic decline. He advised the government to pursue constitutional remedies if aggrieved by the Supreme Court’s judgment.
Another PPP leader, Farhatullah Babar, condemned the move as unsustainable and warned it would compound the political crisis, potentially jeopardizing Pakistani democracy and the state itself.
Former PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, now head of Awaam Pakistan, also criticized the move. He accused the ruling coalition of misunderstanding the Constitution and warned that invoking Article 6 could lead to sedition charges against the rulers themselves. He advised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reconsider the move, as the government’s mandate was already in question.
ANP leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain dismissed the move as ‘childish’ and argued that political parties could not be eliminated through such bans, despite his differences with PTI.
JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah questioned whether political and economic stability would be achieved through this decision and criticized the legitimacy of the government making such decisions.
Similarly, Jamaat-i-Islami also condemned the decision, asserting that it would not withstand judicial scrutiny.
HRCP Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt expressed shock at the government’s decision to ban the PTI, describing it as a violation of party members’ right to association under Article 17 of the Constitution and a significant blow to democratic norms. He noted that the move appeared to be politically desperate, coming shortly after the Supreme Court’s ruling that effectively made PTI the largest party in the National Assembly.
In response to inquiries about the PTI ban, a US State Department spokesperson stated that Washington opposes such restrictions and supports the peaceful upholding of constitutional and democratic principles, including human rights and freedom of expression. He added that the US would monitor the situation as the internal political processes in Pakistan continued to unfold.
