Former President Arif Alvi humorously responded on Monday to the government’s intention to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and file legal actions against him and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In a social media post, Alvi evoked the wit of renowned Urdu humorist Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi to critique Information Minister Attaullah Tarar’s announcement. Alvi recalled Yusufi’s humorous characterization of a friend’s emotional depth, humorously noting, “My dear fellow, you speak like a human, but by God, your emotions are like those of a horse.”
This anecdote was shared following Tarar’s press conference in Islamabad, where he declared the government’s plans to move against PTI through the Supreme Court, citing serious allegations that necessitate the party’s ban.
Alvi’s post paralleled the minister’s emotive rhetoric with Yusufi’s humorous observation, subtly criticizing the tendency to let emotions override reason.
Meanwhile, PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan stated that the party strongly opposes the government’s attempts to ban it, asserting that it has grown stronger and will robustly counter these challenges.
This ongoing political discourse occurs against a recent Supreme Court decision that awarded PTI additional parliamentary seats following the disqualification of its members who had to run as independents in a recent election. Despite these legal victories, Khan remains detained under various charges. A recent UN panel argued that his detention lacks legal justification and appears politically motivated, calling for his immediate release.