Banning PTI

“The idea would be unthinkable in any self-respecting democracy, yet here we are again. The government is considering banning the PTI over the events of May 9 and 10…Clearly, this is a season for bad ideas, and the government appears to be tempted to test another one out. It ought to remember, though, that banning parties cannot win it votes.

Insisting on severely punishing the PTI for its mistakes is no answer. Banning the PTI tells its support base that there is no space for them in the Pakistani system…The government has been repeatedly warned that it may be going too far – to its own detriment. It should heed those warnings and reconsider the path it plans to take.”

(Excerpts from Dawn editorial of May 25, 2023).