Pakistan Peoples Party Disowns Members’ Statements on PTI Ban

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a key ally of the ruling coalition in Pakistan, has distanced itself from statements made by some of its members opposing the government’s plan to ban the opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bokhari clarified that the proposal to ban PTI, led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, was not discussed within the party, and any opposing remarks should be seen as personal opinions.

Bokhari issued a brief statement disowning the remarks made by Farhatullah Babar, who had criticized the government’s actions in a post on X. Babar’s post highlighted the country’s deep polarization, economic issues, and social divisions, and he called the talk of banning a political party or trying a political leader for treason ‘rubbish’ and ‘unsustainable.’

On Tuesday, several leaders from other political parties, including PPP, Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, and Jamaat-i-Islami, criticized the ban proposal. The PTI held a press conference stating that the move was due to the ’embarrassment’ faced by the ruling party after the Supreme Court decision granted reserved seats to PTI, leading to a two-thirds majority in the parliament.

Opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan, supported by party chairperson Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and other leaders, said the government was trying to intimidate the people of Pakistan, but PTI would not be scared. They vowed to continue fighting against those trying to plunge the country into chaos.