The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has made a groundbreaking proclamation after years of probing into the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s funding. They unanimously declared that the party had received “prohibited funding in August 2003, creating an opportunity for the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to dissolve the party. PTI founder Imran Khan was disqualified from Parliament following this ruling. The cipher case, which centers around a piece of paper claimed to be a diplomatic cable, has also come to the forefront with Khan facing charges of violating the Secrets Act.

Violent protests erupted after Khan's arrest in May 2023, leading to over 20 military installations and state buildings being damaged or torched. The government has hesitated to take immediate action, but sources have indicated that disbanding the PTI could become probable once a verdict is reached for Khan and other top leaders currently involved in under-trial cases. If Khan and others are convicted, the party could face a ban. Despite repeated efforts to reach PTI leaders for comment, none were available. This major development has raised significant concerns and implications for the future of PTI and the political landscape in Pakistan.