If govt bans PTI, SC to nullify decision within 24 hours: Senator Ali Zafar

Senator Barrister Ali Zafar has said that even if a ban is placed on the PTI, it is likely to be declared “null and void within a day” by the Supreme Court (SC) as a political party cannot be banned, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Wednesday.

Talking to the media outside the Supreme Court, Zafar referred to the ban on the Jamaat-i-Islami in the 1960s that was set aside by then-chief justice of Pakistan Alvin Robert Cornelius.

“Efforts were made to put a ban on Jamaat-i-Islami long ago. […] The SC had said that you cannot ban a political party and it is everyone’s right to form a political party,” Zafar said.

“As far as vandalism is concerned, that is an individual act […] but a political party cannot be banned,” he asserted. “If such a step is taken, then I believe that this same court will declare it null and void within a day.”

His statement came after a top minister said the federal government was mulling banning the Imran Khan-led party following the violent May 9 riots, in which military installations were also attacked.

"The PTI has attacked the very basis of the state, that never happened before. It can't be tolerated", Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said while addressing a presser in Islamabad.

The PTI workers took to the streets after their party chief's arrest — on the "Black Day" as dubbed by the army — in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case.

Explaining further, the PTI senator said there are different laws that deal with a party that resorts to violence and incites hate.

"If PTI is banned, then I believe the Supreme Cort will strike down that decision within a day," the PTI senator said.

Zafar added that "nobody is following" the law in the country as he lamented that despite securing bail, his party's leaders were rearrested.

"This is lawlessness. We are filing a petition against this and the court will take notice," he added.