PTI to be banned? Faisal Vawda certainly thinks so

Following Tuesday's violent clashes between followers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and law-enforcing forces in the federal capital, which led to multiple casualties, Senator Faisal Vawda, while appearing on the Geo News programme Capital Talk on Wednesday, claimed that former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan's party will be banned.

The Senator's remarks came about as the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) decided to table a resolution in the Balochistan Assembly seeking a ban on PTI after clashes with security officials during the three-day-long party protest.

PML-N parliamentary leader Saleem Khosa, who is set to tabled the resolution to suspend PTI, commented, “Once again, it [the former ruling party] is carrying out violent actions.”

Faisal Vawda stated, “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister [Ali Amin Gandapur] will not be arrested, but Bushra Bibi [Imran Khan’s wife] will.”

Faisal Vawda also pointed out the absence of PTI’s big names during the recent protest: “Where was Omar Ayub Khan, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly?"

He alleged that the former First Lady has a “major role” in bringing founder Imran Khan’s party to a “dead end.”

Vawda took a jab at Imran Khan’s spouse, saying, “Woman [Bushra Bibi] said she would march on D-Chowk but later ran away.”

He criticised Bushra Bibi for insisting on marching towards D Chowk despite the party's big wigs having agreed to change their protest venue to the Sangjani area, in the outskirts of the federal capital.

It should be mentioned here that PTI marched towards Islamabad on the “final call” of party founder Imran Khan.

PTI demanded the reversal of the recently passed 26th Constitution Amendment, the “stolen mandate,” and the release of all party political prisoners, including Imran Khan.

On September 8, PTI staged a rally in Islamabad. However, the November 24 protest was different as the party founder's wife, Bushra Bibi, was leading the convoy along with CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur.

 
Following the crackdown on demonstrators on Tuesday night, former First Lady along with Ali Amin Gandapur had fled from Islamabad to Masehra.

However, CM Gandapur, while addressing party workers and media persons in Mansehra on Wednesday, declared, “This is not just a political demonstration but a fight for our fundamental rights.” 

He also claimed that hundreds of his party workers were killed during the grand clearance operation in Islamabad, which the government denied.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar had, on Tuesday night, said that “no bodies fell in the operation.” Government officials and ministers have also alleged that PTI protesters caused severe damage to public and government property in the federal capital.