LAHORE UNS: President Dr Arif Alvi believes that the government will be “playing with fire” if it resorts to arresting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan — as speculations are rife after PTI Senior Vice-President Fawad Chaudhry’s arrest.
In a conversation with senior journalists on Thursday, the president, in response to a question about Khan’s arrest by the incumbent government, said: “It will be tantamount to starting a fire [fuelling anarchy in the country].”
According to Geo News the president said that arresting the former primer minister or any senior politician would lead to “resistance”, hinting at instability if the government tries to detain its opponents.
Fawad, a former federal minister, was arrested from his Lahore residence in the wee hours of Wednesday after he publicly “threatened” the members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and their families in a media talk a day earlier.
He was then taken to Islamabad, where the capital’s police were granted a two-day remand of the PTI leader in the sedition case. His arrest drew strong criticism within the federal government’s ranks — which, although, has denied involvement.
Imran ‘not against’ table talk
The president also deplored the manner in which Fawad was presented in the Islamabad court and asked the officials to “have some shame” as they covered his head with a 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 the police to take action,” he said.
Despite persistent agitation from the PTI since Khan’s ouster in April last year, the president reiterated that the former prime minister was “not against” table talks.
