Islamabad : Following an aggressive presser from the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general a day earlier , the government has put names of dozens of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) leaders on Exit Control List (ECL) for allegedly fanning violence on May 9 , 2023 against arrest of ex-prime minister and party supremo , Imran Khan.
Among those PTI leaders who have been banned from traveling abroad from Pakistan included Imran Khan’s cabinet members Shah Mahmood Qureshi , Fawad Chaudhary , Musarat Jamshaid Cheema , Shaikh Rashid Ahmad , Shireen Mizari, Umar Ayub , Kanwal Shozab , Sartaj Gul , Usman Dar , Shaikh Shafique and many others.
Most of PTI leaders who have been barred from travelling abroad are already facing cases in different courts for their alleged role in May 9 , 2023 violence.
PTI had launched a country-wide protest on May 9,2023 against arrest of its founding party chairman, Imran Khan. These protests had turned unruly and they resulted in damaging military installations across Pakistan. PTI’s violent protests sent a shocking message to Pakistan’s military establishment, which showed restraints during protests and did not react spontaneously to avoid human loss. The military establishment , however , is repeatedly demanding of the government to bring the perpetrators , facilitators and executors of May 9, 2023 violence to the court of law. For over two years , many PTI leaders are facing trials in May 9 cases , but the courts are yet to give their decisions in majority of under trial cases of PTI leaders.
PTI founding chairman’s sister Uzma Khan’s political commentary outside Adiala jail after having a meeting with Imran Khan a couple of days ago had added fuel to the fire . Uzma Khan ‘s political commentary outside Adiala jail has turned the situation ugly by all means. It sent a message to the military establishment that Uzma Khan’s meeting with Imran Khan has been used to create mess in the country . The government, which was already fuming due to Imran Khan’s harsh statements , also jumped up to the conclusion that it should again ban meetings with Imran Khan in Adiala jail. Irked by Imran Khan ‘s continuous bitting statements, ISPR director general , Ahmad Sharif Chaudhary , held an aggressive presser conference a few days ago. In this press conference , ISPR chief gave a clear message to PTI leadership that the military establishment was pent- up with Imran Khan’s anti military rhetoric and it will not spare such anti military narrative any more.
Within 24 hours from ISPR chief’s firy press talk, the government has moved unequivocally to put almost entire Imran Khan ‘s cabinet on ECL to bar every PTI first and second tier leaders from traveling outside Pakistan.
This development suggests PTI may have more hard times in days and weeks to come.
