QUETTA, November 28,2024 : In a contentious session, the Balochistan Assembly passed a resolution on Thursday, tabled by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), demanding a ban on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after the party’s recent violent protests.
The protests, which lasted for three days and ended abruptly in the early hours of Wednesday, sparked widespread unrest.
The resolution was presented by Minister for Communications and Works, Mir Saleem Ahmad Khosa, alongside other provincial ministers, including Mir Sadiq Umrani, Mir Asim Kurd Gelo, Raheela Hamid Khan Durrani, Bakht Mohammad Kakar, and parliamentary secretaries. The resolution condemned PTI for its role in the May 9, 2023, violence following Imran Khan’s arrest, where protesters attacked military and public property.
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In the resolution, the ruling party accused PTI of inciting violence again, with the statement claiming that the party’s “anarchist agenda” has destabilized key sectors such as the judiciary, media, and economy.
It also criticized the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government for allegedly using state machinery to challenge the federal government.
The resolution urged the federal government to ensure a ban on PTI in light of the recent violent events in Islamabad.
The resolution was met with strong opposition, as members of opposition parties staged a walkout in protest.
National Party President Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch denounced the move, warning that it could set a dangerous precedent, potentially leading to similar actions against parties like Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and PML-N.
He also criticized former critics of Nawaz Sharif, now aligned with the PML-N.
Veteran nationalist leader Nawab Aslam Raisani also voiced his opposition, calling for political dialogue and insisting that all parties deserve a “level-playing field.” Raisani urged the federal government to release Imran Khan and open negotiations with PTI.
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The PTI protest, which began on Monday and continued into Tuesday, paralyzed Islamabad, as thousands of supporters defied a government ban.
The “do-or-die” protest, demanding Imran Khan’s release, ended with over 1,000 arrests.
PTI leader Salman Akram Raja claimed that at least 20 people had died during the unrest, and the party vowed to take legal action against the government and the Ministry of Interior.