Pakistan considers banning Imran Khan's party: Defense Minister
In light of recent developments in Pakistan, the country is considering banning former Prime Minister Imran Khan's political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
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Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif leaves the Supreme Court in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, Nov. 7, 2016. (AP)
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday that Pakistan is considering banning former Prime Minister Imran Khan's political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The anti-Imran Khan moves come just days after political instability in the nuclear-armed nation caused by Khan's arrest on May 9 on corruption charges, before he was released on bail on court orders.
Khan, who says corruption charges have been concocted against him, is embroiled in a confrontation with the powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan directly or overseen civilian governments throughout its history. "It is under consideration to ban PTI," Asif told reporters.
"The PTI has attacked the very basis of the state, that never happened before. It can't be tolerated".
Khan's arrest sparked deadly protests across the country, with army establishments being attacked and state buildings set ablaze.
Yesterday, Khan was granted bail in eight cases as he continues to warn that the military eyes rearresting him imminently.
The former Prime Minister traveled to Rawalpindi earlier today to testify before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) scandal [Al-Qadir Trust case].
Bushra Bibi, his wife, was also granted bail in the case earlier today.
Police and Rangers have been stationed outside the NAB office in Rawalpindi ahead of his presence.
Earlier this month, Khan was detained by the military when he appeared in court in Islamabad to face corruption accusations.
According to Fawad Chaudhry, a senior official with Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, the 72-year-old was detained on the court grounds on Tuesday by operatives from the National Accountability Bureau, the country's anti-corruption organization.
Shortly after Khan passed past the entrance of the Islamabad High Court, paramilitary men and armored personnel carriers followed him. Armored trucks blocked the gate, and Khan was hauled away under tight protection.
Khan was defeated in a no-confidence vote in April of last year. During an interview with Al Mayadeen in March, the former Prime Minister proclaimed that his government was removed "through a conspiracy."
