Lahore, 10 December (H.S.): In a dramatic escalation of Pakistan’s political crisis, the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution seeking a nationwide ban on former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The move, initiated by ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Tahir Pervaiz, accused Khan and his party of acting “as instruments of an enemy state” and inciting anarchy within the country.
The resolution was adopted amid a boycott by PTI members, marking another blow to the embattled politician who remains behind bars. It came just days after Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director-General of the Pakistan Army’s media wing, publicly denounced Khan during a December 5 press conference for “spreading anti-army propaganda.”
As per the resolution, the armed forces were praised as “custodians of Pakistan’s integrity and stability,” defending the nation “against a neighbour five times its size — India.” Lawmakers urged the federal government to impose a complete political ban on PTI and its founder, alleging that Khan’s rhetoric was damaging national unity.
The document further demanded strict legal action and “exemplary punishment” for any political or non-political leader found guilty of promoting divisive narratives against state institutions.The development underscores the deepening standoff between Pakistan’s civilian political sphere and the powerful military establishment, with analysts warning that the ban could heighten instability ahead of the next electoral cycle.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
