This letter refers to the news report ‘Dr Arif Alvi’s mission in US, activities of PTI diaspora’ (March 26, 2025). Going to the US and asking its politicians to erode the authority of the Pakistan justice system is a completely wrong approach. The same PTI leadership and activists were, not long ago, accusing the US of having interfered in Pakistani affairs in order to remove Imran Khan from power. Now the same party is lobbying American politicians to play a role to affect his release. Which side are they on? Political differences are a normal thing in any country's politics, but you do not go to powerful countries and request them to come to your aid. This is tantamount to compromising your own country’s sovereignty. A former president of a country of around 250 million people, with rich resources and a functional if, at times, wobbly democracy, is asking for help from a foreign power. This is so peculiar if not entirely unwise.
When Dr Alvi was the president, he could have brought in the change he is now requesting the United States to help bring. People have not forgotten his submission to Imran Khan. This is our problem. We elevate individual personalities at the expense of our institutions. This needs to change.
Anas A Khan
Edmonton
Canada