The federal cabinet on Wednesday once again deferred the decision to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). This was announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while addressing the participants in the meeting. The cabinet finally met after twice postponing the meeting at the Prime Minister's Office here. The meeting could not reach a decision to proceed under Article 6 against former president Dr Arif Alvi, PTI founder Imran Khan, and former National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri. According to sources, the ban on the PTI was to be considered in the cabinet meeting, but the issue was not taken up. The prime minister mentioned Palestine situation and said the Israeli forces have killed more than 40,000 people. The United Nations adopted resolutions for ceasefire and the International Court of Justice has condemned the genocide but the Israeli government paid no heed to voices against it.

Premier Shehbaz said that the cabinet has approved visa-free entry to businessmen and citizens of friendly countries. The approval was given on the recommendation of the Ministry of Interior for visa-free entry to residents of 126 countries. He said there has been a surge in terrorists’ activities in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recently. Our brave soldiers laid down their lives in defense of the country. "These terrorist acts are a systematic conspiracy against Pakistan," he continued. The premier also talked about “serious” economic challenges to the country. He said a staff level agreement has finally been reached with the IMF. The poor have been hit hard due to inflation. He urged politicians and stakeholders to work in unison to resolve economic crises.

ATTA TARAR'S STANCE

Information Minister Atta Tarar, in the meantime, said at a TV programme on Tuesday said that the government had decided in principle to ban the PTI. Earlier, on July 15, the information minister said the ruling coalition had decided to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He told a press conference that the federal government would file a case to ban the PTI. The government would keep the current situation in mind before taking a step in this regard, he added. "The PTI and the country cannot go together," he categorically stated. The government’s earlier stance was that consultations were underway among the ruling allies regarding the decision to ban the opposition party. The PPP seems to on the fence, though it has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the July 12 verdict that awarded reserved seats to the PTI and recognised it as a parliamentary party.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan