- PTI's Zafar says he will not allow implementation “even for a second”.
- “I think they live in a world that exists outside the law.”
- He informs the Government that its plan to review the Supreme Court order has not borne fruit.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said on Monday that the federal government was seeking to ban the party “out of desperation” after the Supreme Court ruled in its favour in the reserved seats case.
Speaking to Geo newsPTI leader Senator Ali Zafar said his party would not allow the decision to be implemented “even for a second” as it goes against the law of the country.
Zafar's comments came in response to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar's announcement that the government had decided to ban the PTI and file treason cases against the party's founder Imran Khan and former president Arif Alvi.
“As far as their announcement to ban the PTI is concerned, I think they live in a world that exists outside the law. There is no provision in the law that allows the government to resort to such a measure.”
The senator added: “This statement in itself disqualifies him.” [Tarar]”And even if they come up with something so impossible, the courts are there and so are we. We will not allow such a decision to be implemented for even a second.”
Taking a dig at the information minister, Zafar said he believes the minister spoke out of “desperation” after the reserved seat ruling.
“This is an illegal decision.”
Article 6, request for review
The decision to not only ban the party but also file treason cases against its leaders was based on several factors, including the proven allegation that Khan's PTI had received foreign funding from sources that are illegal in Pakistan, as well as last year's riots by party leaders and supporters that targeted military installations, Minister Tarar said.
But Zafar believes that even in this context, the minister, who is also a lawyer, does not understand the law.
“He (Tarar) also talked about the possibility of invoking Article 6. I think he has not read the law. This speaks of high treason. If you break the law, you are not eligible for Article 6.”
“They will all face treason charges if the government decides to take such a step. I am saddened that the government is talking about such things. Their case will be so baseless that they will not be able to defend it.”
Speaking on the decision to file a review petition against the Supreme Court verdict on reserved seats, he said it was the constitutional right of the government to file a review petition if it had grounds for doing so.
“But they must remember that the case will be brought before the same judges who previously issued the verdict on reserved seating and that when the judges have made their decision, then 99% of the reviews will be dismissed. I think this decision is here to stay as it was announced after much deliberation.”
