Pakistan to ban Imran Khan’s party – official
Islamabad has “credible evidence” that the former Prime Minister’s party received foreign funding, says one member of cabinet
Pakistan’s government plans to outlaw former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party Tehreek-e-Insaf, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced on Monday. The cabinet is also seeking to bring new charges of treason against the politician, just days after a court overturned previous convictions.
Khan, 71, who is currently imprisoned on corruption charges, was ousted in April 2022. Since then, he has faced over 100 indictments, which his party has denounced as politically motivated.
On Monday, the interior minister said that the government had obtained “credible evidence” suggesting that Tehreek-e-Insaf had received money from foreign sources, in violation of national law. The cabinet also accused the party of inciting nationwide riots following Khan’s arrest last year.
Massive violent protests broke out in Pakistan in May 2023 following Khan’s detention, triggering a political crisis that only subsided when the Pakistani Supreme Court ordered his release. He was later arrested again and imprisoned on corruption charges.
“The federal government will move a case to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf,” Tarar said, arguing that the latest allegations are enough to allow the ban. However, media is reporting that the decision would still have to be approved by the Supreme Court.
According to Tarar, the cabinet will also file new treason charges against Khan and former President Arif Alvi for allegedly wrongfully dissolving the National Assembly in April 2022, during Khan’s final days in power. The prime minister, who took office in 2018, was ousted in a no-confidence vote.
Khan’s spokesman Zulfiqar Bukhari said the government’s actions were politically motivated. “This is a sign of panic as they have realized the courts can’t be threatened and put under pressure,” he said.
https://www.rt.com/news/601118-pakistan-ban-imran-khan-party/