ISLAMABAD: President Arif Alvi has offered to mediate between Shehbaz Sharif-led government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to lower rising political temperature in country.

Alivi close aide of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in an interview with BBC Urdu said that it is now inevitable to cool down simmering tension and advised political leadership to hold talks.

“It is my offer to them [political parties] to sit together and then senior leadership can hold talks,” said Dr Alvi. President who had held multiple rounds of talks with federal ministers in past, alleged that Pakistan Democratic Movement government is using delaying tactics with regards to PTI, adding that “There’s no communication between two parties in past one month”.

Dr Alvi added that government has indicated its willingness to hold talks with PTI but no results were coming out of it. Talking about economy, he said that there was chance of improvement and dismissed reports of Pakistan defaulting on its international obligations.

Dr Alvi said that it is an election year and emphasised that dialogue should be held before polls. He added that matters related to elections should be sorted so there can be focus on economy and welfare projects.

Responding to a question regarding ties between deposed Khan and ex-Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa President Alvi said that he was not privy to any specific information on matter.

President blamed social media for differences between PTI Chief and Gen (retd) Bajwa. “If social media is given more importance over such issues, then it leads to problems,” said Dr Alvi.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 13 2023

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