The federal cabinet approved visa-free entry for the residents and businessmen of 126 countries in light of the recommendations of the Ministry of Interior. The cabinet deferred the decision to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The meeting earlier twice postponed today held at the Prime Minister’s office but didn’t discuss the ban on PTI and launch proceedings under Article 6 against the former president Dr Arif Alvi, PTI founder Imran Khan, and former National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri.
According to the reported details the ban on the PTI was to be considered in the cabinet meeting, but it was not taken up at all.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif spoke about the Palestine situation and how Israel killed more than 40,000 people. The United Nations resolutions for a ceasefire and the International Court of Justice rulings over the genocide and Israel’s occupation were talked about.
Similarly, the PM condemned the terrorist incidents and expressed concerns over Afghanistan’s involvement with the banned TTP. He said, “We served our Afghan brothers and sisters for forty years despite our limited resources, but this is how Afghanistan has rewarded us for our hospitality.”
He said there had been a surge in terrorist activities in Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recently and the brave soldiers of the land laid down their lives in defense of the country. He condemned the attack on the Pakistani consulate in Germany and said the Foreign Office took immediate action on it.
The PM spoke on how the PTI through its official account targeted the military leadership and it was damaging the national interest through its activities and public statements.
Earlier Information Minister Atta Tarar, in a TV program, said the government has taken a principal decision to ban the PTI. On July 15, the information minister said the ruling coalition had decided to ban the PTI. He told a press conference that the federal government would file a case to ban the PTI. He said, “The PTI and the country cannot go together.”
After this announcement was made there came a severe back lash from the politicians and the rights activists and even from abroad.
The government’s coalition partner – the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) said It was not taken into confidence in this matter. The PPP also opposed banning a political party urging the PTI should mind its way and direction for politics. Afterward, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said the government would take this decision after consultation with its partners The government’s earlier stance was that consultations were underway among the ruling allies regarding the decision to ban this opposition party. Political analysts think that the government may not ban the PTI for reasons that to get the PTI banned it will have to reach the Supreme Court for stamping this decision. To them, the government is aware of the top court’s mood, so it may not go for such an adventure. There are reports that the government so far has postponed this matter on the advice of the Attorney General of Pakistan who informed the government that it may not win this case.
(By Rana Kashif)
