Pakistan to Ban Imran Khan’s Party Amid Political Turmoil

Pakistan’s government is set to ban the party of the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (P.T.I.), officials confirmed on Monday. The decision, if upheld, is expected to heighten the political chaos that has engulfed the country for the past two years.

The country’s information minister, Attaullah Tarar, stated that the government’s move to outlaw P.T.I. comes in response to actions that were deemed as a direct threat to the nation’s unity.

However, analysts view the decision as a sign of the Pakistani government’s increasing desperation. Following an election earlier this year, where the military was accused of manipulating numerous races against P.T.I., the government has been struggling to assert its control.

“If pushed through, it will achieve nothing more than deeper polarization and the strong likelihood of political chaos and violence,” remarked Asad Iqbal Butt, the chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

The government’s announcement closely follows a ruling by Pakistan’s Supreme Court granting P.T.I. 23 unelected seats in Parliament designated for women and minorities. This ruling significantly weakened the governing coalition led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as it lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament.

P.T.I., despite facing crackdowns on its candidates and supporters, emerged as a dominant force in the election, winning more seats than any other party. The party’s rise to power accelerated after Mr. Khan’s fallout with the military led to his ousting in a vote of no confidence in 2022.