No decision yet on banning PTI: Dar

LAHORE: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said the decision to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf will be made after consultation with allies.

“The decision to ban or not ban the PTI will be taken after consultation with the PMLN leadership and allies,” Ishaq Dar said while speaking to the media at the 981st annual ceremonial bathing of the grave of the patron saint of Lahore Hazrat Data Sahib (RA), here on Tuesday.

A day earlier, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar announced banning the PTI as a political party in a press conference, after which the MQM and PPP leadership said they were not consulted on the decision.

Ishaq Dar mentioned that some construction at Data Darbar is ongoing and that the expansion will start from the Bilalganj side. He asked Nespak to complete the Data Darbar expansion project as soon as possible.

While talking to the media, he reiterated that the PMLN government did not bring about the current inflation and asked people to remember the condition of Pakistan when Nawaz Sharif was expelled.

Dar said that those who came to power in 2018 left the country on the brink of default in six to seven months. He further claimed that in 2018, a person was put in power by stealing the election and investing crores of rupees. During the PTI era, the country’s economy dropped from 24th to 47th place. He maintained that the PMLN was not fond of government, but if it had not come to power, the country would have gone bankrupt.

Ishaq Dar said Shehbaz Sharif and his team had saved the country from bankruptcy. He mentioned that Pakistan is still suffering from isolation, and the present government is working to strengthen diplomatic relations with major countries.

“Nothing will happen to Pakistan with the prayers of Data Sahib, Pakistan will emerge again,” Ishaq Dar said, adding that Shehbaz Sharif and his team are working to make the country an economic force.

Responding to a question, Ishaq Dar said the ECP has enough evidence in the foreign funding case against the PTI, and no one can deny it. The election commission has declared that the PTI is a foreign-funded party.

On the issue of banning the PTI, he said the final decision would be taken by the PMLN leadership after consulting its allies according to the law and the Constitution.

Dar said, “We are not calling the FIA or NAB every DGs morning and evening like the founder of the PTI used to do.” He emphasised that national security is the most important, and the government will not tolerate anything against national security. He said whoever was involved in the May 9 incidents should be punished.

Provincial ministers Khawaja Salman Rafiq and Bilal Yasin also participated in the 981st annual ceremonial bathing of Hazrat Data Sahib.

Ishaq Dar, along with the provincial ministers also inspected the expansion project adjacent to the Data Sahib shrine.