LAHORE: Former President Dr Arif Alvi says the army trial of civilians will eventually defame the army at home and abroad. “It is high time to heal the nation and distance itself from spreading bitterness,” he suggested.

Speaking to media persons after a visit to the Punjab Assembly and meeting with PTI-backed MPAs on Monday, Dr Alvi said the PTI had three demands — supremacy of law, release of PTI founder chairman and return of mandate, who genuinely won general elections.

He said it had become inevitable to create peace in the wake of constantly heating up political temperature and added that the mandate of real winners of general elections should be returned – for a better economic future.

He said the resolution of political conflicts would help create employment opportunities for millions of unemployed youth. He lamented that the health and education facilities were depleting and poverty increasing.

Dr Alvi said he had met party workers, who languished in jail for eight months, despite the fact that there was no evidence of their involvement in any violent activity. In one case, he said, a party worker’s two brothers were also arrested.

The former president lauded the judiciary for standing tall for the law and justice. He also commented that the Hamoodur Rehman Commission Report was a report of Pakistan and judiciary. He stressed that the army, politicians and civilians should learn from the commission report and stop tagging people as traitors.

He said it was PTI’s right to distrust those judges who were showing prejudice against the PTI leaders and those should distance themselves from benches hearing PTI leaders cases.

Dr Alvi also expressed solidarity with the Palestinians and thanked Norway, Spain and Ireland for recognizing Palestine. He also acknowledged the South African government for taking Palestine’s case to the International Court of Justice.

He said the Pakistan government was responsible to ensure security for the workers from China and stressed that the CPEC project should be completed in all respects.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2024