As tensions run high in Pakistan following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that he is not in favor of banning any political party.
According to the details, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto made the comments while addressing a press conference in Karachi flanked by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and provincial information minister Sharjeel Memon.
Responding to a query at the presser, the foreign minister said that it was imperative for PTI to maintain its status as a political party and not transform into a group that supports terrorism.
Read more: PTI issues rebuttal to ISPR statement on mayhem in Pakistan
Foreign Minister Bilawal said that he is not in favor of banning any political party and he will be the last person to agree to such a decision. If PTI decided to engage in an armed rebellion against the state, then it may become necessary for the government to ban the party. He, however, expressed hope that the government would not head in that direction.
“I am not in favor of banning anyone. We must adopt completely constitutional and legal procedures to ban PTI,” Bilawal Bhutto said.
On the other hand, Bilawal Bhutto also urged PTI to end its protests that erupted following Imran Khan’s arrest on Tuesday. He advised PTI “not to make matters worse” terming the protests as “completely unjustified”. Bilawal maintained that if the PTI was interested in remaining a political party, it would have called for peaceful protests.
The foreign minister further stated that the PTI, in its protests, had “crossed the line” and asserted that it was the responsibility of the state and its institutions to implement law and order under the Constitution.
Read more: No visas, no jobs: IG Punjab threatens youth with negative character certificates
Following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, protests erupted across the country as PTI supporters took to the streets, clashing with the police and attacking state property. Such incidents sparked speculations that PTI may face a ban similar to Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).
In April 2021, the Pakistani government banned TLP, a far-right religious political party, after days of violent protests across the country. The protests were sparked by the arrest of the TLP leader, Saad Hussain Rizvi.