Pakistan government moves to ban jailed ex-Premier Khan's party

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan's government seeks to ban the party of jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, the information minister said on Monday, a move likely to further deepen an ongoing political crisis in the South Asian country.

Addressing a news conference in the capital Islamabad, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the government will approach the Supreme Court after approval from the Cabinet, which is a legal requirement to ban a political party.

"Pakistan and the PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) cannot progress together. And a series of recent events have proved this," Tarar said.

"That's why, the government is going to ban the PTI," he said, adding that the process will be initiated in the next few days.

He cited PTI's alleged involvement in attacks on military installations in May last year after Khan's brief arrest in a corruption case, for receiving "prohibited" funding, and its supposed efforts to sabotage a government-IMF deal to justify the decision.

Khan, 72, who was ousted through a no-trust vote in April 2021, is currently languishing in a jail in northeastern garrison city of Rawalpindi along with his wife for his alleged involvement in multiple corruption and violence related cases.

The cricketer-turned-politician has been acquitted in two of three cases he was convicted in, whereas his third conviction remains suspended.

The information minister said the government would also submit a review petition before the Supreme Court against its verdict last week, which declared the PTI is eligible for reserved seats for women and minorities.​​​​​ The party-backed candidates had won the most seats in the Feb. 8 polls.​