Former Prime Minister Imran Khan remains a very popular politician in Pakistan despite being ousted two years ago in a vote of no confidence, and facing charges in several cases, ranging from corruption to treason.

In February, candidates backed by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, who were forced to run as independents, won the most seats in Pakistan's general elections, even after facing a widespread clampdown and alleged vote rigging by their opponents.

Now, days after a Supreme Court decision legally recognized the PTI as a party, therefore allowing it the most seats in Pakistan's Parliament, the coalition government, headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said it would seek to ban the party outright.

"We believe that there is credible evidence that PTI should be banned," Atta Tarar, Pakistan's information minister, told DW. He cited several allegations levied against Khan, including leaking state secrets, receiving foreign funding and inciting riots after his ouster.

Pakistan's coalition government, led by Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), is widely seen as having the backing of the country's military, which analysts say has a long history of........

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