The Punjab government has approved measures against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan and several party leaders, accusing them of engaging in a systematic conspiracy to destabilize Pakistan.
This decision, based on documented evidence, was made by the Punjab Assembly Cabinet.
According to the documents, the cabinet declared that the PTI founder is orchestrating a campaign to destabilise the nation. The accusations include assigning party leaders to promote an anti-Pakistan narrative, with a particular emphasis on drawing parallels between the current political situation and the events leading to the secession of East Pakistan in 1971.
These actions, the documents suggested, were tantamount to rebellion. The PTI founder and other workers were engaged in anti-state activities to achieve political goals.
The cabinet meeting highlighted that the PTI leaders' statements were part of an organized effort to compare the current political climate to the 1971 crisis. It was noted that Barrister Gohar Khan, a senior PTI member, made anti-state remarks outside Adiala Jail after consulting with party founder Imran Khan, further fuelling the narrative.
"The actions of the PTI founder and other members fall under the category of rebellion," stated the cabinet, emphasizing that their statements have generated negative propaganda among the public.
The cabinet documents indicated that legal actions would be taken against Imran Khan's statements and media talks, with cases to be filed for making false statements against national institutions, the judiciary, and senior officers.
The Punjab Cabinet has recommended action under several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including Sections 121 (waging or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against Pakistan), 121A (conspiracy to commit offenses punishable by Section 121), 123A (condemnation of the creation of the State, and advocacy of abolition of its sovereignty), 131 (abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty), and 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot).
Furthermore, the PTI was declared an illegal party under the Criminal Law Act. The cabinet has approved the action against the former prime minister and his party leaders under Section 196 of the Criminal Procedure Code 1898, granting the additional commissioner at the Coordination Commissioner's Office in Rawalpindi the authority to file criminal complaints.
