From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has ruled out the pos-sibility of a ban on any political party, as the government mulls prohibiting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the wake of violent protests that took place on May 9.
“No one can put an end to any party”, Khaqan said while speaking to the media after a hearing at an accountability court in Karachi on Tuesday.
Khan’s arrest in the £190 million settlement case triggered countrywide riots and incidents of violence that continued for three days.
Keeping in view the party’s aggressive approach, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had said there was no other option but to impose a ban on PTI.
“It’s important to have a stance against armed groups. There is no other option but to impose a ban on this party [PTI],” the interior minister said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also said that the incumbent government was mulling a possible ban on Imran Khan-led party.
PTI is undergoing a rough patch, with scores of members including senior leadership parting ways with it as a clampdown on it continues. Several party leaders and thousands of workers have been rounded up in connection with the violent protests.
