Hours after the well-in-debate issue in Pakistan, the United States on Monday expressed concerns over the PML-N-led government’s surprise announcement that it is planning to impose a ban on its political rival PTI over its alleged involvement in anti-state activities.
Responding to a question during a daily press briefing, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller referred to the media reports and the Pakistani government’s announcement, saying the development “is a beginning of the complex process”.
“[…] certainly banning of the political party would be of great concern to us,” he added.
The spokesperson stressed his country supports the peaceful upholding of the country’s Constitution and democratic principles including respect for human rights and freedom of expression.
“We support the democratic processes and broader principles including the rule of law and equal justice under the law and as these internal processes continue to play out we will monitor the further decisions,” Miller said.
The government’s announcement drew severe criticism from several quarters including leaders of mainstream political parties.
Terming the government’s move to ban the PTI “childish and injudicious”, the Awami National Party (ANP) said the path of the political parties could not be choked with restrictions and hurdles, stressing: “Restrictions on the political parties and political process are not acceptable at any cost.”
“Despite the political difference with the PTI, we believe the government’s move would be a folly,” the ANP central spokesman said while underscoring the need to identify people who kick up political instability and economic crunch in the country.
Coming down hard on the government’s decision, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah raised multiple questions: “Can the decision bring about political and economic stability in the country? Will the decision cause the confrontation to spiral or scale down? What benefit will this decision offer to the public and the country? Does the government of Form 47 have the right to make such decisions?”
Apparently referring to the ban announcement, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said Pakistan will not be able to come out of the political crisis until the army detaches itself from the political affairs.
Highlighting the prevailing political crisis in the country, the JUI-F chief said: “The army will have to distance itself from politics in order to resolve the political crisis.”
