FIR registered against people protesting against president’s VVIP protocol

However, President Dr Arif Alvi terms registration of FIR ‘ridiculous’

It seems the tall claims of austerity by the PTI government stand exposed as Sindh Police on Sunday lodged two separate cases against people who protested against President Dr Arif Alvi’s VVIP protocol in Karachi.

According to Express News, the Sindh government lodged an FIR against a Karachiite who demonstrated against the president’s protocol after it blocked Shahra-e-Faisal late Saturday night. Video of the incident, uploaded on Facebook, shows a man being ruffed up by traffic police.

https://www.facebook.com/TheTimesOfKarachiTOK/videos/960296114165827/

However, promptly reacting on the registration of the FIR, President Alvi took to the micro-blogging website, saying: "FIR against the person protesting against security is ridiculous. When people are inconvenienced they do react."

FIR against the person protesting against security is ridiculous. When people are inconvenienced they do react.

— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) September 23, 2018

On September 15, the president drew flak for VVIP protocol during the first visit to his hometown after assuming office.

Interestingly, members of FixIt campaign – run by Pakistan Tehreek –e-Insaf (PTI) Alamgir Khan – were booked by Sindh Police for taking to the streets to clear out the traffic jam caused by President Alvi’s protocol.

A case was registered against them at Tipu Sultan Police Station.



After much criticism on the TV and social media, the president took to Twitter to express ‘embarrassment’. He insisted that the authorities ignored his request and provided protocol.

“The long chain of official cars following me is despite the fact that I asked all officials present at the airport not to embarrass me with a huge protocol. One or two cars in front and one or two cars behind may satisfy their security needs. This did not happen. We have to try harder,” he had tweeted.

The long chain of official cars following me is despite the fact that I asked all officials present at the airport not to embarrass me with a huge protocol & that 1 or 2 cars in front and 1 or 2 cars behind may satisfy their security needs. Did not happen. We have to try harder

— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) September 15, 2018