ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is contemplating banning former prime minister Imran Khan’s occasion for attacking the state, the defence minister mentioned on Wednesday, a choice more likely to enrage his supporters and exacerbate his confrontation with the navy institution.
The previous cricket star is embroiled within the newest, essential section of a a long time outdated rivalry between civilian politicians and the highly effective navy, which has dominated immediately or overseen governments all through Pakistan’s historical past.
The face-off has introduced widespread protests by Khan’s supporters, elevating new fears in regards to the stability of the nuclear-armed nation because it struggles with its worst financial disaster in a long time.
Defence minister Khawaja Asif instructed reporters that Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) occasion had attacked the “very foundation of state”, which couldn’t be tolerated.
“It’s into consideration to ban PTI,” he mentioned, including the parliament must give ultimate approval for a authorities determination to ban the occasion.
The minister referred to Khan’s protesting supporters who this month attacked navy installations, together with military headquarters, and authorities buildings.
Khan, or a PTI spokesperson, weren’t instantly obtainable for remark.
Khan grew to become prime minister in 2018 with the tacit assist of the navy, although each side denied it on the time. The navy noticed Khan, together with his conservative, nationalist agenda, as seemingly to make sure the safety of its pursuits.
However Khan later fell out with the generals after being seen as having tried to intrude in key promotions within the safety sphere, and he was ousted as prime minister after shedding a confidence vote in 2022.
Khan, 70, has since then been campaigning for a snap basic election, rallying supporters throughout the nation, however the prime minister who changed him, Shahbaz Sharif, has rejected the decision for an election earlier than one is due late this yr.
Khan can also be going through corruption fees that he has dismissed as being cooked in a bid to banish him from politics.
Khan was detained on Might 9 in reference to the fees, sparking the protests by his supporters and their assaults on the navy amenities.
Khan was later freed on bail.
Anti-graft company investigators questioned him for about three hours on Tuesday.
The previous cricket star is embroiled within the newest, essential section of a a long time outdated rivalry between civilian politicians and the highly effective navy, which has dominated immediately or overseen governments all through Pakistan’s historical past.
The face-off has introduced widespread protests by Khan’s supporters, elevating new fears in regards to the stability of the nuclear-armed nation because it struggles with its worst financial disaster in a long time.
Defence minister Khawaja Asif instructed reporters that Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) occasion had attacked the “very foundation of state”, which couldn’t be tolerated.
“It’s into consideration to ban PTI,” he mentioned, including the parliament must give ultimate approval for a authorities determination to ban the occasion.
The minister referred to Khan’s protesting supporters who this month attacked navy installations, together with military headquarters, and authorities buildings.
Khan, or a PTI spokesperson, weren’t instantly obtainable for remark.
Khan grew to become prime minister in 2018 with the tacit assist of the navy, although each side denied it on the time. The navy noticed Khan, together with his conservative, nationalist agenda, as seemingly to make sure the safety of its pursuits.
However Khan later fell out with the generals after being seen as having tried to intrude in key promotions within the safety sphere, and he was ousted as prime minister after shedding a confidence vote in 2022.
Khan, 70, has since then been campaigning for a snap basic election, rallying supporters throughout the nation, however the prime minister who changed him, Shahbaz Sharif, has rejected the decision for an election earlier than one is due late this yr.
Khan can also be going through corruption fees that he has dismissed as being cooked in a bid to banish him from politics.
Khan was detained on Might 9 in reference to the fees, sparking the protests by his supporters and their assaults on the navy amenities.
Khan was later freed on bail.
Anti-graft company investigators questioned him for about three hours on Tuesday.
