Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif has said that the government is mulling a ban on the PTI in light of the May 9 events.

“A decision has not been taken yet, but a review is surely underway,” he told media persons in Islamabad.

He said the vandalism of military installations across the country on May 9 was “coordinated attacks” planned by PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

“There is a lot of evidence and their people are telling themselves that they were briefed about this beforehand. I feel that his [Imran] struggle of a year … all his plans failed and this was his last move against the armed forces.”

When asked if Khan’s party would be banned under the same rule like other parties were banned in the past, he replied, “This is way different.”

“The May 9 events were way different than those political motives which took place in the 1970s and 80s. They never targeted our defense institutions, they didn’t challenge the writ of the state, although, their political difference exists with the sitting government.”

“What they [PTI] did is they challenged the state, they have attacked assists of the state,” said Asif. “Four people were killed in firing in Gujranwala, ISI office was also attacked and then Sialkot they tried to enter in the Cantonment office, then they attacked the Corps Commander house.”

The defence minister said that their collation partners are on the same page that “only India can carry something out like thin but Pakistanis can’t”.

Moreover, he believes that Imran Khan sees the army as his adversary. “His entire politics was done in the lap of the army and today he has suddenly decided to stand against it.”

“They have said that everything happened with planning. In fact, they were facilitated.”

The minister said that the current situation had resulted in a “new situation”. The coalition government will take every such step to prevent others from targeting the armed forces in the future, he said.

The minister said that May 25 will be celebrated and tribute would be paid to the country’s martyrs. He said that honouring martyrs was the norm the world over.