Potential Ban Looms Over Imran Khan’s PTI Amid Legal Challenges

Potential Ban Looms Over Imran Khan’s PTI Amid Legal Challenges

Potential Ban Looms Over Imran Khan’s PTI Amid Legal Challenges

Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party faces the prospect of a ban if Khan and other top leaders are convicted in cases related to violent incidents on May 9 and violation of the Secrets Act in the cipher case, media reports suggest.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) declared in August 2003 that PTI had received “prohibited funding,” providing an opportunity for the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government to dissolve the party. Imran Khan was disqualified from Parliament.

The cipher case involves a diplomatic cable waved by Khan, claiming an “international conspiracy.” Violent protests erupted on May 9, 2023, following Khan’s arrest, leading to calls for PTI’s ban.

ECP Verdict Raises Dissolution Possibility

After the ECP’s verdict on PTI’s funding, the PDM government contemplated dissolving the party, sources reveal.

The May 9 violence prompted the government to consider questioning PTI’s legality before the Supreme Court, but the matter was deferred for a more opportune time.

The ECP’s findings indicated PTI’s violations of electoral laws, setting the stage for potential legal action against the party’s existence. The caretaker government or the subsequent administration may seek judicial intervention to determine PTI’s fate.

Legal Challenges and Under-Trial Cases Cast Shadows

PTI’s legal challenges, including the cipher case and allegations related to violent protests, contribute to the uncertainty surrounding its future.

The party’s potential dissolution hinges on the outcomes of cases involving Imran Khan and other leaders.

Sources suggest that disbanding PTI might become more likely if verdicts in the under-trial cases implicate the party’s founder and leadership.

PTI leaders, including opposition leader Shahzad Waseem, remained unavailable for comments amid these legal developments. The situation highlights the precarious position of Imran Khan’s PTI, subject to legal scrutiny and the looming possibility of a ban.