The federal government would not be able to ban the PTI, former education minister Shafqat Mahmood said on Tuesday, citing that such a step would further create division between the state and the people.

“A ban on PTI is completely a wrong decision,” he said while appearing at News Insight with Amir Zia aired on Aaj News.

Earlier this week, Mahmood announced his retirement from politics. He clarified that his decision was not influenced by any pressure and that he has no plans to join any other political party.

Mahmood, who entered politics 34 years ago after resigning from government service, said he wanted to dedicate the rest of his life to writing and teaching.

At the show, Mahmood said that the country’s condition was uncertain and the prevailing system would not end.

When asked, he said there were two opinions within the party after the vote of no-confidence including a confrontational policy and the wait and see approach.

He went on to add that Usman Buzdar’s appointment as Punjab chief minister was not welcomed by everyone in the party as he was new to everyone. But he also hinted at rumours of extension sought by former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa while responding to a question mistakes of Imran Khan as the prime minister.

He added that democracy would have strengthened if the government had ruled for five years. To a certain extent, he agreed that many people wanted Buzdar removed from the CM post amid complaints and corruption allegations.

According to Shafqat, the PTI should be ready for dialogue and sit with political parties including those which they don’t like.

He added that he thought of retiring from politics in 2022 after undergoing a surgery.