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PPP to back bid to ban PTI: Bilawal tells Shehbaz

IANS | May 26, 2023 01:51 PM

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said his Pakistan People's Party (PPP) will not resist any move to impose a ban on the Imran Khan led-PTI "for promoting extremism and violence".

Earlier, Bilawal had voiced his disagreement when some PML-N leaders proposed a ban on PTI as a political party, reports Dawn news.

He made these remarks while speaking to the media in Islamabad, which echoed the sentiments he expressed during the meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as well.

"I have opposed the move to ban PTI in the federal cabinet, but now we can do nothing as they (the PTI) have crossed the red line, " he said.

"What can we do if a political party wants to be turned into a militant organisation, " he asked rhetorically.

On setting up military courts to prosecute PTI supporters who were involved in riots and violence on May 9, the PPP chairman said his party will support anything done under the law and Constitution, Dawn reported.

Although he endorsed the trial under the Army Act, 1952, the PPP leader ruled out the possibility of a constitutional amendment to establish new military courts.

The courts could be formed under the Army Act and thus, there was no need for a constitutional amendment, he added.

Bilawal has made his intentions clear, the opinion within the PPP was divided on both issues -- the establishment of military courts and a ban on PTI, Dawn reported.

Talking to Dawn, PPP leader Farhatullah Babar said Bilawal met Sharif for the first time since the PPP's Central Executive Committee meeting on May 19.

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