ISLAMABAD: Former president and party leader Arif Alvi was given an “important responsibility” by party chief Imran Khan to “resolve things” through dialogue apparently with the powers that be.
This was revealed during a press conference held by PTI leaders, including National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, Arif Alvi, and PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan, outside Adiala jail after their meeting with the ex-PM in the jail.
The PTI did not share details of the ‘important’ task Mr Alvi was assigned, but the former president had made several attempts to bridge the chasm between Imran Khan and the military establishment during his stint as the head of the state. In his media talk, he said dialogue would have to be held. He, however, claimed that the political parties, part of the ruling coalition, had “no actual power”.
In response to a question about why the PTI wanted to talk to someone other than the ruling parties, the ex-president responded, “You people know who wields power” in Pakistan. “These political parties are involved in the Form-47 [manipulation] and have nothing to do with the government…” he said in an apparent reference to the coalition government.
The PTI spokesperson chimed in, saying that the party would not talk to PML-N, PPP, and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan because they were the alleged beneficiaries of the purported mandate theft.
According to Mr Alvi, he had tried to resolve things in the past and even now he was trying to do the same for the sake of the country.