The federal government’s announcement to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf hasn’t bode well with its key ally Pakistan People’s Party, which has distanced itself from the arguably controversial move.
PPP’s Information Secretary Shazia Atta Marri has said the Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s party, a key ally of the Pakistan Muslim League-N led government in the centre, wasn’t consulted on the move to ban the Imran Khan founded party.
Elaborating the PPP’s stance, Marri said that the party would hold consultations on the government’s decision to ban the PTI.
Speaking to a news channel PPP’s Senator Sherry Rehman confirmed Marri and Shah’s remarks about not being consulted and noted that the party had no idea that such a move by the Centre would be taken.
Responding to a question regarding their alliance with the PML-N, the senator acknowledged that the government’s move shouldn’t come as a surprise to them as they are allies.
“We have also worked with allies before where every step is taken with careful due consideration with regard to its repercussions.
“I have no idea on what level this whole issue was discussed by the government,” she said.
When asked about would the banning the PTI achieve anything, Rehman answered in the negative and said: “My personal opinion is that this won’t achieve anything […] Even though the PPP was subjected to various tactics in the past it still stands strong today.”
“I’m of the view that you can’t stop anything or anyone via ban or censorship, there are other ways to make someone mend their ways,” the PPP leader said.
