PTI should have been banned after May 9 incident: Khawaja Asif

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has confessed that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was not consulted on the issue of banning the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, noting that the latter should have been banned soon after the May 9 incident.

Speaking at the HUM News programme “Faisala Aap Ka”, Asif said that the PML-N government will go to any length to salvage the current dispensation.

Asif further stated that the decision to ban PTI should have been made after consulting all allies.

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Asif criticised PTI, stating that their “anti-national activities” have been ongoing for the past 18 months.

The Defence Minister said that he does not foresee the release of PTI founder Imran Khan happening soon.

“Despite Shahbaz Sharif making several offers for dialogue on different occasions, PTI has not responded,” said Asif.

Khawaja Asif further said that there are striking similarities between Trump and Imran Khan, noting that they seem like twins because both were attacked and had to go to jail in legal cases.

Responding to criticism from political parties about the newly launched ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’, Khawaja stated that they cannot afford to wait for all political factions while children continue to be martyred.