Alvi says will welcome dialogue about next elections

ISLAMABAD: Former president Arif Alvi has added his voice to the growing calls for negotiations, stating that he would welcome talks on future elections.

“If dialogues are held about the next elections, we will welcome it,” he stated this in an interview with CNN during his ongoing private visit to the United States.

In the interview, Alvi also emphasized that dialogue is also the solution to the Balochistan issue.

Alvi alleged that his party, PTI, won in Balochistan during the February 8, 2024, elections, but their votes were undercounted. He asserted that had the votes been counted accurately, PTI would have formed governments in all the provinces, including Balochistan.

The former president expressed concern over the frustration among the youth in Balochistan, stating that their voices were not being heard. He also criticised the use of force to suppress protests across the country, arguing that it only exacerbates public discontent.

Furthermore, he said that print, electronic, and social media in Pakistan are currently not free and social media platform X could only be used with a VPN.

Meanwhile, the differences in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are surging gradually on the issue of holding talks with the establishment. PTI leader Azam Swati claimed of holding a meeting with important personality on Wednesday in this regard. But PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja termed this meeting a personal effort. While Azam Swati also claimed that he had taken former president Arif Alvi into confidence in this regard.

Salman Akram Raja, talking to anchor Shehzad Iqbal of Geo News Programme ‘Naya Pakistan’ on Saturday, said that he has no knowledge of opening of any backdoor contact or channel in this regard, however, if someone is making effort in this connection that will be his individual effort but as a party there is nothing happening. Salman Raja claimed that Azam Swati’s move has nothing to do with the political committee of the party. He said that if something happens in this regard that will be with the consent of Imran Khan and discussion will be focused on restoration of law and Constitution, freedom of judiciary and transparent elections.