Pakistan's government has decided to ban jailed former PM Imran Khan's  Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party, just months after Shehbaz Sharif came to power in the country.

This decision comes on the heels of relief given to the PTI by the top court in the reserved seats case as well as to the party chief in the Iddat case, Dawn News reported.

Information Minister Atta Tarar said in a press conference as quoted by Dawn News that  if the country is to move in a forward direction, it cannot do so with PTI’s existence.

“In view of the foreign funding case, May 9 riots, and the cipher episode as well as the resolution passed in the US, we believe that there is very credible evidence present to have the PTI banned,” he said.

“You tried to damage the country’s diplomatic relations for the sake of your political interests and went on to get a resolution passed against Pakistan in the US,” he said.

The Lahore Police recently arrested the former PM and cricketing superstar in connection with a dozen cases, including the attack on the Corps Commander House, lodged against the PTI founder over the May 9 riots.