Ban on PTI may no longer be needed after governor’s rule in K-P: Tarar
Says government may no longer need to pursue ban on PTI, accuses it of facilitating terrorism in K-P
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated on Tuesday that a ban on the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party may no longer be necessary following the imposition of governor's rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). The emergency and governor's rule were declared on October 11 after failed negotiations between the government and opposition, leading to a PTI march towards Islamabad.
A joint session of parliament adopted resolutions last week ratifying the presidential proclamations imposing emergency and governor's rule in K-P for two months, despite opposition protests.
Tarar said non-functional K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was in protective custody, and an advisory council would decide his fate. He defended placing Afridi in protective custody following an emergency, stating it was a necessary step to prevent potential sabotage or threats to law and order.
Tarar criticized the PTI government for failing to deliver development projects and improve infrastructure in the province, highlighting the lack of progress in Kohat, where the Kohat Tunnel and motorway were built during the previous PML-N government and have not been maintained. He also accused the PTI of allegedly supporting terrorism and militant groups, including the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Tarar defended the decision to place Afridi in protective custody, stating it was a natural measure taken during an emergency to safeguard law and order. He affirmed that a ban on the PTI might no longer be required as the party is absent from parliament, their electoral symbol was revoked, and their members are not present in the House.
Written by urgent.news from The Express Tribune - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
