Federal Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said on Wednesday that any decision to impose a ban on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) could not be political and would be based on legal grounds.

Speaking on the Samaa TV programme "Red Line with Talat Hussain", Tarar termed the PTI as an unprincipled party. He said that the PTI had supported terrorism, and that attacks like those of May 9 had not even been carried out by Pakistan’s enemies. He added that the PTI had adopted a cloak of politics while its actions resembled those of terrorists.

Tarar said that the government had given the PTI an opportunity for dialogue. He said it remained to be seen when a decision on the ban would be made. He said that the Punjab Assembly had approved a resolution for the ban, correcting the record, and emphasised that no political party or leader was above Pakistan; politicians held differing opinions.

He said that no institution of the armed forces had ever been targeted in the manner PTI was doing. Tarar added that the PTI mocked those serving in Siachen in harsh winter conditions and spoke against those risking their lives. He recounted that the PTI workers fled from water cannons, resulting in an MNA falling into a manhole and sustaining a leg fracture.

The minister said that those who faced suicide bombers deserved respect, and that a legal basis for a PTI ban was emerging. He added that PTI founder Imran Khan was in jail over a £190 million corruption case. Tarar lamented that the PTI did not acknowledge achievements such as polio eradication and the activation of the CTD. He said that statements issued by PTI often contradicted legal principles, and that the government would continue to highlight PTI’s violations to the nation.

He said the PTI’s rhetoric was against the armed forces and national defence, questioning the need to appear on Indian channels.

Tarar termed it as regrettable that the PTI now had to address Indian channels to issue statements. He said the government would continue to expose the PTI, and that the party no longer had the strength to act. He claimed the PTI workers had failed to reach even the entrance of Adiala Jail, had been intimidated by water cannons, and that despite organisational efforts, attendance at the Peshawar rally had been poor. He added that people were opposing the PTI’s statements against the armed forces.