Pakistan mulling possible ban on Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party: Defence Minister

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the government is mulling a possible ban on Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party following the attacks by his supporters on military installations after the former prime minister’s arrest.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on May 24 said the government is mulling a possible ban on Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party following the attacks by his supporters on military installations after the former Prime Minister's arrest.

On May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of 70-year-old Mr. Khan by paramilitary Rangers. His party workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander house, Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. Police put the death toll in violent clashes to 10.

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"A decision has not been taken yet, but a review is surely underway," Mr. Asif told reporters in Islamabad.

He, however, said that the matter will be referred to the Parliament for approval if the government finally decides to ban the former ruling party, Geo News reported.

Mr. Asif claimed that the vandalism of military installations across the country on May 9 was “coordinated attacks" planned by Mr. Khan.

"There is a lot of evidence and their people are telling themselves that they were briefed about this beforehand,” he was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper.