PESHAWAR: In the wake of the federal government’s announcement of possible adverse actions against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur declared on Tuesday that “no one can dare to ban the PTI which secured the highest number of votes” in the February 8 nationwide polls.
The PTI-backed Chief Minister made this statement during a press conference in Peshawar, responding to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led coalition government’s controversial decision to consider banning the Imran Khan-founded party. This decision has exacerbated the ongoing political crisis.
CM Gandapur, accompanied by the Peshawar commissioner, the KP Assembly speaker, the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO), and other officials, visited the Supreme Command Post at Kohati Gate to review security arrangements for Muharram processions. He assured journalists that Muharram events were proceeding peacefully across the province with all provincial departments working in coordination to maintain law and order.
Reacting to Federal Information Minister Ataullah Tarar’s announcement about the potential ban, Gandapur accused the federal government of stealing the mandate to assume power. He criticized the PML-N-led government’s decision to ban PTI and file high treason references against party leaders Imran Khan, Arif Alvi, and Qasim Suri for dissolving the National Assembly in April 2022.
“They are talking about banning a political party [PTI] that secured the highest number of votes,” Gandapur said. He welcomed the Supreme Court’s verdict declaring PTI eligible for reserved seats for women and minorities, calling it a “victory of PTI’s stance” on the matter. He demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja following the verdict, which overturned previous rulings by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Peshawar High Court (PHC) denying reserved seats to PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) candidates.
Addressing other issues, Gandapur stated that his party opposed ad hoc judges’ appointments to the Supreme Court, advocating for merit-based appointments instead. He mentioned that PTI founder Imran Khan would decide on initiating political dialogue with the ruling parties.
Gandapur dismissed the government’s decision as a political maneuver, urging all parties to unite against what he described as an unjust move. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar clarified that the decision to ban PTI had not yet been finalized and would be deliberated upon after consulting the government’s allies.
The PML-N faced backlash from its coalition partner, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and other opposition parties following the announcement, further complicating the political landscape.
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