LAHORE: President Arif Alvi believes that government will be playing with fire if it resorts to arresting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan as speculations are rife after PTI Senior Vice President’s arrest. In conversation with senior journalists here, President in response to question about Khan’s arrest by incumbent government said, “It will be tantamount to setting fire [fuelling anarchy in country].” He said that arresting former Prime Minister or any senior politician would lead to “Resistance”, hinting at instability if government tries to detain its opponents.

Fawad, former Minister was arrested from his Lahore residence in wee hours of Wednesday after he publicly “Threatened” members of Election Commission of Pakistan and their families in media talk day earlier. Dr Alvi also deplored manner in which Fawad was presented in Islamabad court and asked officials to “Have some shame” as they covered his head with white sheet and also handcuffed him.

 “Institutions shouldn’t need police to maintain their respect. If someone has an issue with me, then I will improve my performance instead of asking police to take action,” he said. Despite persistent agitation from PTI since Khan’s ouster in April last year, President reiterated that Imran Khan was “Not against” table talks.

“If politicians do not want to sit and negotiate, then what can I do? Imran Khan is not against negotiations, however, there was no response from government [when asked to sit on table],” he said. President said that Khan was even ready to reconsider early polls as he wanted government to begin negotiations.  President Alvi said Governor Punjab told him that he would not be partaking in “Unconstitutional” moves. He added that PTI Chief also fears polls might be put off.

The president also stated that he had no contact with the establishment and that the army had said it did not want to interfere in politics.

Alvi stressed that currently, Pakistan needed its politicians to conduct dialogue and fill gaps themselves and that the two sides could at least talk about general elections, if not early polls. He furthered that the statements of Fawad and other PTI leaders evidently showed that talks should be held.

Commenting on the potential vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Alvi said that he did not believe that the current premier would lose a vote of confidence in the National Assembly.

“Institutions shouldn’t need police to maintain their respect. If someone has an issue with me, then I will improve my performance instead of asking the police to take action,” he said. President Alvi insisted that Imran Khan was “not against” table talks. “If politicians do not want to sit and negotiate, then what can I do? Imran Khan is not against negotiations, however, there was no response from the government when asked to sit on the table,” he said.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 27 2023

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