In a session marked by sharp divisions, the Balochistan Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution, introduced by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), demanding an immediate ban on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). This move followed the recent unrest during PTI’s three-day protest, which abruptly ended in the early hours of Wednesday.
The resolution was presented by Minister for Communications and Works, Mir Saleem Ahmad Khosa, alongside provincial ministers Mir Sadiq Umrani, Mir Asim Kurd Gelo, Raheela Hamid Khan Durrani, Bakht Mohammad Kakar, and parliamentary secretaries. It condemned the violent actions of PTI during its protests. However, the opposition parties staged a walkout in protest against what they called the mistreatment of the former ruling party.
The resolution, a copy of which was obtained by Geo News, blamed PTI for the violent incidents on May 9, when the party’s supporters erupted in protests following the arrest of PTI’s founder, Imran Khan. The protests resulted in attacks on public property and military institutions across the country.
The resolution further accused PTI of continuing its “violent actions” and pushing an “anarchist agenda” that has destabilized key sectors of the country, including the judiciary, media, and the economy.
Additionally, the resolution claimed that attempts by provincial governments, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), to challenge the federal government were part of a broader anti-state agenda. It called on the federal government to take swift action and ensure a ban on PTI in light of the recent violence in Islamabad.
National Party President Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch strongly opposed the resolution, cautioning the government that such actions could set a dangerous precedent, potentially leading to bans on other political parties such as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and PML-N. “We have not learned from the past, when Jamat-e-Islami and the Awami National Party were banned,” he said, criticizing those who once opposed Nawaz Sharif but have now joined the PML-N.
Veteran nationalist leader Nawab Aslam Raisani also spoke out against the resolution, stressing that all political parties should have a fair and equal playing field. “Dialogue and negotiations are the only way forward,” he said, urging the Centre to release Imran Khan.
Meanwhile, the protest in Islamabad, which began on Monday, led to chaos, with PTI supporters defying a government-imposed ban. The protests, demanding Imran Khan’s release, resulted in nearly 1,000 arrests. PTI leader Salman Akram Raja claimed that at least 20 people lost their lives during the crackdown and vowed to challenge the government’s actions in court.
Islamabad’s police chief, Ali Rizvi, denied the use of live ammunition during the operation, reporting that 600 protesters were arrested on Tuesday, bringing the total arrests to 954 by the end of the protest sit-in.
