Islamabad, Pakistan –

The Pakistani government has revealed its intention to ban Pakistan Terheek-e-Insaf (PTI), the political party of the incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar made the announcement on Monday, following a recent legal victory for PTI in the Supreme Court, which declared the party eligible for reserved assembly seats.

“The government has decided to ban PTI based on available evidence, citing instances such as violent protests and leaked classified information,” said Tarar.

The case is set to be taken to the Supreme Court, along with plans to bring treason charges against Khan and two other senior party leaders. Additionally, the government intends to file a review petition against the Supreme Court's ruling on reserved seats for women and religious minorities.

Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, a senior PTI leader, criticized the government's decision as a sign of panic and reiterated their commitment to legality.

Last week, the Supreme Court recognized PTI as a political entity, asserting its right to field candidates despite not having an election symbol. This decision followed PTI's ban from using its party symbol, the cricket bat, in February's parliamentary elections.

Despite facing obstacles, PTI-backed candidates secured 93 seats, emerging as the largest parliamentary bloc. However, Khan's refusal to form a coalition led PMLN and PPP to unite with smaller parties in the government.

Former Governor Sindh Zubair criticized the government's move, correlating it with the recent Supreme Court ruling and warning of potential political turmoil.

Imran Khan, who became prime minister in 2018, was ousted in 2022 and has since encountered legal issues, including accusations of leaking classified information. Despite allegations, Khan maintains that his removal was orchestrated by political adversaries and the military.

Despite legal wins, Khan remains incarcerated since last year due to various charges.