Quetta (Web Desk): The Balochistan Assembly, in a session marked by a huge division, passed a resolution on Thursday, introduced by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), calling for the imposition of a ban on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
The move came in response to the violent protests staged by PTI, which took place over three days in Islamabad and abruptly ended early on Wednesday morning.
The resolution, which was presented by several ministers, including Mir Saleem Ahmad Khosa, Mir Sadiq Umrani, Mir Asim Kurd Gelo, Raheela Hamid Khan Durrani, Bakht Mohammad Kakar, and parliamentary secretaries, condemned PTI for its involvement in the violent demonstrations and its ongoing confrontational stance against the government.
The resolution accused PTI of playing a key role in the violent protests of May 9, when the party's supporters attacked public and military properties following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.
It also blamed the party for continuing to fuel unrest, claiming its "anarchist agenda" was damaging the country's political, judicial, and economic systems.
The document further criticized PTI for its attempts to challenge the federal government and alleged that the KP government’s actions were evidence of the party’s anti-state agenda.
The resolution called on the federal government to ensure that PTI be banned due to the recent violent incidents in Islamabad.
However, Opposition members strongly rejected the resolution.
Speaking on the floor of the provincial assembly, National Party President Dr Abdul Malik Baloch condemned the mpve.
He expressed his disapproval, warning that such measures could also be directed at other political parties, including the PPP and PML-N.
Dr Malik Baloch recalled past incidents where parties like Jamat-e-Islami and the National Party Awami were banned, and cautioned that history could repeat itself.
Nawab Aslam Raisani, a well-known nationalist leader, also spoke out against the resolution, advocating for a level playing field for all political parties and calling for negotiations as the only path to peace.
He urged the federal government to release Imran Khan, believing it could help ease the political crisis.
The backdrop of the resolution was the PTI’s recent protests in Islamabad, which caused significant disruptions in the capital city.
Despite the government-imposed ban, thousands of PTI supporters flooded the city, demanding Imran Khan’s release.
The protests, which were described by the party as a last-ditch effort to secure Khan's freedom, resulted in the arrest of nearly 1,000 supporters.
