In a significant move, the Pakistani government is poised to ban former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed the federal government's decision to initiate the ban, citing credible evidence against the party.
"We believe that there is credible evidence that PTI should be banned," Tarar said.
This development comes as Imran Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician, faces a multitude of legal challenges.
Khan has been incarcerated for nearly a year, with various court cases that he claims are designed to thwart his political comeback ahead of the February national elections.
On the same day, Khan was 'arrested' by Lahore Police related to the May 9 riots of the previous year.
This arrest followed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) securing his eight-day remand in the Toshakhana case. Khan's pre-arrest bail in three cases related to the May 9 riots was dismissed by Lahore's Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), leading to police custody for interrogation.
He faces charges of abetment in attacks on significant sites, including Lahore Corps Commander House, known as Jinnah House, Askari Tower, and Shadman police station.
The Shehbaz Sharif government's decision to move against PTI comes shortly after the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled PTI eligible for a share of reserved seats in national and provincial assemblies.
This ruling has made PTI the largest party in the National Assembly, holding 109 seats.
Since his ousting from power in 2022, Imran Khan has consistently targeted Pakistan's powerful military leadership and its allies. The 1992 World Cup-winning cricket captain is currently embroiled in several legal battles.
Notably, last Saturday, an Islamabad court acquitted Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the "iddat case," also known as the un-Islamic nikah case.
The couple had previously been sentenced to seven years in prison and fined five lakh Pakistani rupees each following a challenge by Bushra's ex-husband, Khawar Maneka.
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