ISLAMABAD:Defence Minister and senior PML-N leader Khawaja Asif has announced that the government is mulling to ban Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) following May 9 vandalism. Talking to newsmen in Islamabad on Wednesday, Khawaja Asif, however, said that no such decision has yet been taken but it is under consideration. Khawaja Asif said although the decision to ban Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had not been taken as yet, but it was on the cards.

He alleged that the crimes committed on May 9 were pre-planned. “Which crime PTI workers did not commit on that day,” Asif said, adding, “PTI carried out attacks on state assets on May 9.” He went on to say that attacks on army and government buildings were PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s last ploy. “Imran considers Pakistan Army his enemy,” the minister said, and claimed that preparations for the acts of violence witnessed on that day had been underway for the last one year.

He said that some PTI leaders confessed that what had happened on May 9 had been planned beforehand. “There were jubilations all over India following incidents of vandalism and arson,” he recalled. He was of the view that Imran thought he was a genius and others were fools. “PTI gambled on that day, which proved to be counterproductive,” the minister added.

Asif said the idea of placing a ban on the PTI would be discussed in parliament. “Banning the party will be the consensus decision of all parties, part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM),” he elaborated.