On February 8, Pakistan’s electorate delivered a clear verdict against the status quo, signaling a desire for change. However, nearly six months later, efforts to suppress the will of the people persist.

On Monday, the government announced plans to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and bring treason charges against its founder Imran Khan, former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, and ex-president Dr. Arif Alvi. This move is part of a broader strategy where the law has been weaponized for political purposes.

Throughout the year, the actions of a coercive state apparatus have been blatant. The PTI, Pakistan’s largest political party, was excluded from the electoral process, prevented from fielding candidates on party tickets, and unlawfully denied its constitutional entitlement to reserved seats by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Last week, the Supreme Court corrected these errors, restoring the PTI’s rightful voice in Parliament. This decision was a significant victory for the people, with eight judges unequivocally stating that “PTI was and is a political party, which secured or won general seats in the National and Provincial Assemblies in the General Elections of 2024.”

In an alarming development, the government now threatens to ban the PTI, relying on dubious grounds such as the foreign-funding case and the “cipher episode.” The government’s narrative, which includes rhetoric like “PTI and Pakistan cannot co-exist,” is divisive and reminiscent of the harshest martial law eras.

The government has also announced plans to invoke Article 6 of the Constitution, accusing PTI leaders of treason for dissolving the National Assembly while a no-confidence motion was pending. However, the Supreme Court’s decision restoring the Assembly contains no mention of treason, and legal experts argue that the government’s charges are baseless.

For now, even if the government declares that the PTI should be dissolved, it will not impact its legal status as a political party until the Supreme Court upholds such a declaration. The ongoing struggle highlights the need for true democratic inclusion and the dangers of using legal instruments for political repression.

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