Doesn't matter if PTI is banned, will float a new party and win the election, says ex-Pak PM Imran Khan

Former Pakistan Chief Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that he was prepared to float a new party to contest the upcoming general elections in the country, in the event that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is banned.

A news report in Pakistani English daily Dawn quoted Khan as saying, "If they remove the party then we will form a party with a new name and still win the elections."

Khan's statements come in light of Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah saying that banning the PTI was the only solution.


The former Prime Minister's party has been the centre of attention since violent, nationwide protests in May saw the Pakistan government clampdown on the PTI and its party members.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said a move to that effect was being considered, whose thoughts were echoed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Imran Khan was quoted by Nikkei Asia as saying that "even if they disqualify me and throw me in jail, the party will still win".

The former Prime Minister emphasised to the outlet that his base of supporters "remains intact", claiming that the national politics had "fundamentally changed." On the continued crackdown on his party, Imran said the government was "still trying to break it through intimidation".

With inputs from ANI