According to the defense minister, Pakistan is considering banning the party of former prime minister Imran Khan for undermining the government. This move is expected to infuriate Imran Khan's fans and escalate his conflict with the military establishment.
The powerful military, which has ruled directly or oversaw administrations throughout Pakistan's history, and the influential civilian politicians are engaged in a long-running competition that has reached its most recent, crucial stage.
Khan's followers have staged large-scale rallies in response to the conflict, which has renewed concerns about the stability of the nuclear-armed nation as it battles its worst economic crisis in decades.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told reporters that Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had attacked the “very basis of state,” which could not be tolerated.
“It is under consideration to ban PTI,” he said, adding the parliament would have to give final approval for a government decision to ban the party.
The minister made reference to rallies by Khan's supporters, who last month damaged military facilities, including army headquarters, and government structures.
Meanwhile, any such action, according to PTI party counsel Ali Zafar, would be contested in court. He asserted that an entire party cannot be held accountable for the actions of a single person.
The powerful military, which has ruled directly or oversaw administrations throughout Pakistan's history, and the influential civilian politicians are engaged in a long-running competition that has reached its most recent, crucial stage.
Khan's followers have staged large-scale rallies in response to the conflict, which has renewed concerns about the stability of the nuclear-armed nation as it battles its worst economic crisis in decades.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told reporters that Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had attacked the “very basis of state,” which could not be tolerated.
“It is under consideration to ban PTI,” he said, adding the parliament would have to give final approval for a government decision to ban the party.
The minister made reference to rallies by Khan's supporters, who last month damaged military facilities, including army headquarters, and government structures.
Meanwhile, any such action, according to PTI party counsel Ali Zafar, would be contested in court. He asserted that an entire party cannot be held accountable for the actions of a single person.
