Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has announced plans to ban former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and to seek treason charges against Khan.

The decision is based on allegations that PTI received prohibited foreign funding and that its leadership and members engaged in rioting last year targeting military facilities.

"The federal government will move a case to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf," Tarar stated. He noted that the issue would be referred to the cabinet and the Supreme Court if necessary.

Additionally, the government will file a legal reference against Khan and former President Arif Alvi for treason charges under the country's constitution before the Supreme Court, Tarar added.

Khan's aide, Zulfikar Bukhari, criticized the decision, calling it a move towards "soft martial law" and a sign of government panic.

"This is a sign of panic as they have realized the courts can't be threatened and put under pressure," Bukhari said.

PTI candidates ran as independents in the February 8 election after being barred from the polls. On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that the party was entitled to over 20 additional reserved seats in parliament, putting further pressure on the coalition government. It remains unclear how the proposed ban would impact this decision.

Tarar also mentioned that the administration would request a legal examination of the reserved seat issue.

On Saturday, a Pakistani court nullified the convictions and seven-year prison sentences of Imran Khan and his wife, suggesting that Khan might be released after nearly a year in prison. However, he was swiftly re-arrested due to his alleged involvement in last year's riots. His party indicated that his wife, Bushra Bibi, might also face re-arrest in connection to an ongoing corruption investigation.

Since being ousted from power through a vote of no-confidence in 2022, Khan has faced numerous legal challenges. The latest development in his legal battles was his acquittal on Saturday in a case involving the legality of his marriage to Bushra Bibi. Under Islamic law, which Pakistan follows, a woman must wait three months after a divorce before remarrying. (ILKHA)