Govt starts preparations to file Article 6 case against PTI leaders: sources

• Officials say legal experts are being consulted on filing Article 6 against PTI leaders.
• Source says Ministries of Interior and Law have started gathering evidence related to the case.
• Article 6 says any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance the Constitution shall be guilty of high treason.

The federal government has started preparing an Article-6 case against former and current office bearers of the PTI in government, sources told Geo News on Thursday.

Officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, say that legal experts are being consulted on filing a treason case against high-profile government officials for violating the Constitution. They also added that Ministries of Interior and Law have started gathering evidence related to the case.

The people who are being considered for the Article 6 are President Arif Alvi, former prime minister Imran Khan, former deputy speaker Qasim Suri and Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema.

What is Article 6 of Pakistan’s Constitution?

Section one of the Article says:

“Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance, the Constitution by use of force or show of force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason.”

The second clause adds that any person aiding, abetting or collaborating in the acts will also be considered guilty of high treason.

Clause 2A says that an act of high treason cannot be validated by any court, including the Supreme Court and a High Court.”

The last clause directs the Parliament to provide “for the punishment of persons found guilty of high treason.”