Imran, Alvi alleged phone conservation post PTV attack surfaces

ISLAMABAD – An alleged conversation audio record between Pakistan Tehereek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and PTI Secretary General Arif Alvi surfaced during the PTI and the PAT protesters sit-in at D-Chowk and attack on state television.

In the conversation, Arif informs Imran that the PTI workers have breached the premises of state-run television office, Pakistan Television (PTV). Upon which the PTI chief instructs Alvi to put maximum pressure on the government so that Prime Minister Nawaz resigns.

In the audio tape of a telephonic conversation between imran and Alvi, the PTI chairman purportedly appreciated the attack on state-run television in September last year. “Acha hai, Acha hai...this will put pressure on Nawaz Sharif to resign,” Imran responded in the audio when he was told by Alvi that PTV premises was attacked and its transmission has gone off-air.

“You have to put maximum pressure today,” Imran instructed Alvi. The audio tape has created frenzy in the political scene of the country. In reaction, Arif Alvi on Friday claimed that his telephonic conservation with the PTI chairman was recorded illegally. He also expressed his doubts that the conversation was edited or forged and was presented out of context.

“Even to splice a conversation, ‘to mix & match & patch’ somebody is recording phone calls without legal authority,” Alvi said through his Twitter account. “I resigned from an National Assembly (NA) committee when a huge file of telephone conversations was presented. For suspects too there must be a judicial sanction. Is a stickler for privacy of conversations. I resigned on principle,” he said in his message.

The PTI leader said that all political parties, including MQM were contacted to join the anti-government protest that lasted for three months in Islamabad to press Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign. “We openly requested all parties including the MQM at time of sit-in to join us. See talk shows and newspapers to confirm,” he said.

PTI leader Imran Ismail has also denounced recording of politicians’ telephone calls. Imran Ismail commented on the controversy and denounced recording of law makers’ phone calls. He said that such act should be condemned as it is a breach of privacy. He added that the PTI would file petition against the controversial phone call recording in the Supreme Court.

The PTI leader said that the tape did not prove that the party was behind the attack on PTV. “We vehemently deny that the PTI was directly or indirectly involved in any violent activity,” Ismail added. Whereas the MQM’s Saman Jafri said that Imran has used foul language against the prime minister in the audio tape.