Islamabad, July 15 (Reporter) The federal government of Pakistan has announced its decision to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in an attempt to suppress the party, media reports said on Monday. The move seems to be a strategy to prevent incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party from becoming the largest party in the National Assembly, a Pakistani news portal, DAWN, reported. The announcement follows the top court's relief to the PTI in the reserved seats case and the party chief in the Iddat case. According to media reports, the planned ban on reserved seats and PTI-affiliated lawmakers' decisions by the top court and lawmakers are yet to be determined. Speaking during a press conference in Islamabad, Information Minister Atta Tarar said that if the country is to move in a forward direction, it cannot do so with PTI’s existence. “We are going to impose a ban on PTI, and we believe that Article 17 of the Constitution gives the government the right to ban political parties, and this matter will be referred to the Supreme Court,” he said. “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. It further adds that “such law shall provide that where the Federal Government declares that any political party has been formed or is operating in a manner prejudicial to the sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan, the Federal Government shall, within fifteen days of such declaration, refer the matter to the Supreme Court whose decision on such reference shall be final.” Article 17 (2) of the Constitution states that “every citizen, not being in the service of Pakistan, shall have the right to form or be a member of a political party, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan,” reports said...////...