Former President and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf ( PTI ) senior leader, Dr. Arif Alvi, announced on Tuesday that his party is open to holding dialogue with real power. This statement was made in response to questions about the impression that PTI founder, Imran Khan, currently incarcerated, was against engaging in dialogue with political opponents to stabilize the country.
The announcement comes after repeated appeals from the current government for the PTI to engage in talks to resolve the ongoing political crisis. Despite these calls, the former ruling party had yet to provide a definitive response until now.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Dr. Alvi expressed his disillusionment with the current state of accountability in Pakistan, declaring, “I have lost all hope as accountability is impossible in Pakistan.” He praised the Islamabad High Court’s verdict in the diplomatic cable case, asserting that the case had been unfounded. “It is the prerogative of a prime minister to decide whether to inform the nation about a cipher,” he maintained, referencing his time as head of state.
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Dr. Alvi criticized the elite class for resisting accountability or investigations into sensitive matters. “From [former military ruler] Ayub Khan till today, accountability is not our priority. Our people are so sure to see no justice here in Pakistan,” he lamented.
The ex-president also pointed to the significant losses Pakistan has faced due to regime changes, particularly highlighting the PTI-led government’s ouster in April 2022. He noted that political instability has adversely affected the national economy, causing uncertainty and prompting the local business community to invest abroad.
