PESHAWAR – Peshawar High Court has ordered the federal government to submit cabinet meeting minutes and explain the reasons behind the PTM ban during a hearing on a petition from PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen.
Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Aurangzeb questioned the government’s failure to provide documentation supporting the ban. The judges directed officials to present the minutes of the cabinet meeting that approved the decision. Petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Ataullah Kundi, accused the government of imposing the PTM ban without legal justification. He argued that officials had not shared any reasons, despite claiming cabinet approval. “They insist the cabinet sanctioned it, yet they refuse to present any minutes,” Kundi said.
Deputy Attorney General Sanaullah defended the secrecy, stating that the documents remain classified and require confidential handling. Justice Sahibzada Asadullah rejected the excuse and instructed the government to submit the documents for in-chamber review. Kundi demanded the authorities disclose the grounds for the PTM ban. “The government must explain its decision,” he said. “Officials have provided no justification so far.”
He also challenged the legality of the move, pointing out that the government claimed to have approved the ban through circulation but failed to secure signatures or meet legal requirements. Kundi criticized the government for ignoring due process. “Officials must notify an organization’s leader at least three days before imposing a ban, yet they never informed PTM,” he said.
The court instructed the federal government to submit the cabinet meeting minutes and all related documents at the next hearing. The judges scheduled the next session for 25 March. Speaking to Peshawar Post, Ataullah Kundi accused the government of deliberately delaying the case. “Officials call the documents secret, but without transparency, how can anyone know the reasons behind this ban?” he said.
Kundi rejected the government’s justification for banning PTM. “The cabinet never approved it, and the government refuses to follow legal procedures,” he said. “Officials imposed the ban in October, yet after five months, they still cannot present the cabinet minutes in court. This delay exposes the government’s real intentions.”
