PML-N's Khawaja Asif opposes government's decision to ban PTI

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif opposed the PMLN-led government's decision to ban Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and termed it as a "pre-mature" move.

The federal minister acknowledged the decision was made in haste.

“Yes you can say that we declared this pre-maturely, and it should be consulted before,” the PML-N stalwart said while speaking to a private news channel.

The decision to ban the former ruling party came on July 16 in a press conference addressed by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar.

"PTI and Pakistan cannot move forward together," Tarar said while addressing a presser in Islamabad.

The government has also decided to file treason cases under Article 6 against Imran Khan and his close aides, Arif Alvi and Qasim Suri.

The move was not only opposed by the PTI but the government’s key ally PPP also raised its voice and termed it against democratic "norms".

“We will take this major step after creating broad consensus InshaAllah,” said defence minister, however, he also rejected the impressions of facilitating the institutions' allegedly fighting against jailed PTI founder Imran Khan. 

“This is about Pakistan,” replied Asif.

“Since their ouster from power and the attitude they adopted, the PTI become the existential threat to the country,” he added.

“They are receiving all-out support from the US either diplomatic or legislative. There should be a political solution to the political problems."