The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has openly opposed the recent move to impose bans on political parties, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Hasan Murtaza, the General Secretary of PPP Central Punjab, condemned the decision to implement Article 6 sanctions against PTI leaders, labeling the move as unwarranted.
Murtaza argued that political disagreements should not lead to the dismantling of any political party.
He highlighted the need for all political entities to adhere to democratic principles and emphasized that differences in opinion should be resolved through dialogue rather than suppression.
He pointed out that Article 6, which has historically been applied to former Generals Musharraf and Zia-ul-Haq, has never been enforced against political leaders or their followers.
According to Murtaza, the use of this article against political figures is not appropriate and undermines democratic norms.
The controversy follows a decision by the ruling coalition, led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), to seek a ban on PTI.
This decision came shortly after the Supreme Court reinstated PTI, prompting the government to announce its intention to file a reference with the top court to ban the party.
Additionally, the government plans to initiate high treason proceedings under Article 6 against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, former President Dr. Arif Alvi, and former Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri for their roles in dissolving the National Assembly in April 2022.
Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar announced during a press conference that the ruling alliance would also challenge the Supreme Court’s decision to grant PTI reserved seats in the assembly.
The government intends to file a review petition against this ruling.
Murtaza reiterated that imposing restrictions cannot eliminate a political party and that the path to resolving national issues lies in open dialogue and adherence to democratic processes.
He stressed that resorting to bans and sanctions only deepens political divides and hinders the democratic process.
