The bitter political wrangling in Pakistan shows no signs of ending. While former prime minister Imran Khan is ratcheting up protests to push for early elections, the coalition government of Shehbaz Sharif appears set to go on the offensive against the PTI leader.
Pakistani media outlets reported on Thursday the government is moving to file a case against Imran, President Arif Alvi and other members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over their alleged violation of the Constitution during the proceedings of the no-confidence motion earlier this month.
The government is preparing to file a case citing Article 6 of the constitution, which refers to high treason. According to a 1973 law, the punishment for high treason is death or life imprisonment.
Geo News reported “The people who are being considered for the Article 6 [case] are President Arif Alvi, former prime minister Imran Khan, former deputy speaker Qasim Suri and Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema.”
Geo News reported the ministries of interior and law had started gathering evidence related to the case.
When it took up petitions related to the no-confidence motion, the Pakistan Supreme Court had pulled up Alvi and Suri for violating the constitution.
“The authorities are obtaining statements of the accused and records of the national and provincial assemblies, insiders said. The sources also said that relevant court orders and judicial precedents will be attached with the reference to be filed in the Supreme Court. The reference will write a new chapter in the political and judicial history of Pakistan, they added. Under the law, the federal government has the authority to take action under Article 6,” The News International reported.
