Khawaja Asif supports govt decision to seek ban on PTI

Throwing his weight behind the government’s decision to seek a ban on the PTI, Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif on Tuesday also said that former president Arif Alvi, former prime minister Imran Khan and former National Assembly (NA) deputy speaker Qasim Suri should be tried under Article 6 of the constitution, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Talking to the media in Sialkot, Asif, who is also a PML-N stalwart, said that there existed enough evidence that justified the trial of these individuals under the aforementioned article.

He, however, said that the PML-N would hold consultations with its allies in the parliament prior to taking any decision on the subject of banning the PTI.

He alleged that the only purpose of PTI’s politics was to reach the corridors of power again.

He accused the PTI of working against the stability of the country.

The defence minister stressed the need for conveying to the masses the reasons that led the government to seek a ban on the party.

Asif said what he and others were today was because of Pakistan. “Without Pakistan, we are nothing.”

Unfortunately, PTI leaders and workers, the minister went on to say, had linked the country’s existence and stability to Imran Khan becoming the prime minister again.

He opined that Article 6 was invoked when a party (PTI) got 52 bills passed by bypassing the parliament. “No institution is above the country’s existence and the constitution. Whosoever violates the constitution, invites penalties under the article.”

Asif said what happened on May 9 was a direct attack on Pakistan. “There exists a Supreme Court’s ruling that substantiates my point of view,” he said.

The minister wondered why courts took no action against those who had vandalized and torched government and army installations on May 9. “But when a politician speaks louder in a courtroom, he is immediately summoned.”