11 proscribed organizations barred from taking part in GB Elections

The Gilgit-Baltistan Ministry of Interior has barred 11 banned organization and political parties, including Tanzeem Ahl-e-Sunnat wal Jammat, Islami Tehreek Pakistan, Anjumam-e-Imamia , Tehreek-e-Jaffaria, Khana-e-Hikmat, Tanzeem-e-Naujawaan-e-Ahle Sunnat, and many others, from taking part in the upcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan. A directive has also been released in this connection, asking the media to neither promote nor cooperate in any other manner with the proscribed organizations.

According to a notification, the Ministry of Interior has ordered that the proscribed organization will not be allowed to contest the elections and send their representatives to the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly.

Many of these organizations have been banned for their alleged involvement in sectarian violence, spreading hate speech, involvement in terrorism or supporting terrorism.

The ban would affect the Islami Tehreek Pakistan, which has fielded at least 11 candidates in the GBLA elections, and was expected to announce four more candidates in the near future.

ASWJ had announced a month ago that it will not be taking part in the election and that it will also not be supporting any group or candidates but its working under the cover of Tanzeem Ahl-e-Sunnat wal Jammat.

Many people believe that the candidates can change their political parties to circumvent the ban and take part in the polls.

Its regrettable that the Government has once again imposed the ban on peaceful shiite party Tehreek-e-Jaffaria Pakistan aka Islami Tehreek Pakistan despite not a single evidence against this shiite party established before the court. The balance policy of the Government may harm the country.