Alvi calls for forgive and forget

PTI seeks commission to investigate and punish those responsible for May 9 violence

LAHORE:

Ex-president Dr Arif Alvi, affiliated with the PTI, on Wednesday said people from both sides in the country would have to forgive each other, an indirect message to the ‘powerful circles’ for last year’s May 9 violence.

He was speaking to the media after visiting an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, where he met party leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omer Sarfraz Cheema, and Ejaz Chaudhary, who were facing trials in various cases there.

On May 9 last year, law enforcement agencies arrested PTI founding chairman Imran Khan for the first time in connection with a corruption case, triggering violent riots across the country in which the several installations of the security establishment were attacked.

During the meeting, Alvi assured the PTI leaders even though they were all facing terrorism cases, they did not need to worry as the people were with them.

Read Alvi strikes defiant note on NA session

Dr Yasmin told him to convey her message (to Imran) that she was happy in jail no matter how many atrocities she was subjected to.

She added that half her day was spent fighting cats and lizards in prison, while the other remaining time reading books.

Alvi said Imran had repeatedly urged them to follow the principles of democracy.
Alvi later told the media that he had arrived at the ATC to meet his friends, who were awaiting justice.

He reiterated that the PTI wanted a commission to investigate the May 9 violence and punish the culprits.