“PTI is a political party and a ban should not be imposed on it,” says Punjab minister
Bureau Report
Lahore: As the ruling coalition and the opposition PTI locked horns over the November 24 Islamabad protest, Punjab Minister for Industries and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain has opposed any move to ban the Imran Khan-founded party.
“PTI is a political party and a ban should not be imposed on it,” Hussain said while talking to the media on Wednesday.
Hussain, whose party Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) is any ally of PML-N-led government both at the Centre and in Punjab, also called for holding talks with the PTI.
In the same breath, he also called for accountability of rioters who desecrated martyrs monuments during the May 9 protests last year — a reference to the violent protests broke out in the country following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in a corruption case.
The PML-Q leader also slammed the PTI’s nine-year rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying “not a single hospital was built” in the province and urged Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to “focus on the progress and development of the province instead of protests”.
The provincial also touched on the speculation of governor’s rule in KP, saying: “Only talks of governor’s rule is going on in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
The violence during the PTI’s “do-or-die” protest in Islamabad fueled speculations that the government was mulling tough measures including imposing a ban on the opposition party.
Adviser to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah had confirmed that the matter of banning PTI was discussed in the federal cabinet meeting but the consensus could not be evolved.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had also clarified that the Centre has no intention of imposing governor’s rule in KP where PTI-led government is in power.
Similarly, Balochistan Assembly passed a resolution seeking a ban on the Imran Khan-led party after four law enforcers including three Rangers personnel and policeman were left dead in the protest.
“Once again, it [the former ruling party] is carrying out violent actions,” the resolution stated, adding that the PTI’s “anarchist agenda” has affected the country’s system and every sector, including the judiciary, media and the economy.
