Daily Times

KARACHI: President Arif Alvi on Sunday said that registering a first information report (FIR) against the person who protested against his VIP protocol was ridiculous.

President Alvi took to Twitter and posted, “FIR against the person protesting against security protocol is ridiculous. When people are inconvenienced they do react.”

Earlier on Sunday, a case was registered against an unidentified person for obstructing the president Alvi’s security protocol at Sharah-e-Faisal on Saturday night. Reportedly, the case was registered on the directions of Shahrah-e-Faisal sub-inspector (SI) Mohammad Saleem.

According to the police, the person parked his car in the traffic which had been halted for the president’s protocol, went up to the traffic police officers stationed there to maintain order and demanded that citizens not be inconvenienced in addition to prompting other citizens to disobey the traffic police personnel by urging them not to stop their vehicles. According to the police, the man also kept making a video of his altercation with the police.

The video which later went viral on social media platforms shows the man urging other drivers to not stop for the protocol. Several motorcycle riders can be seen breaking the barriers despite protests from the police. Moreover, the video also shows the police officials manhandling and pushing back the protestor. The police said that the man escaped when a crowd started to gather around them. According to the police, officials were unable to do anything at the moment because they were following the VIP protocol. Police said that a FIR had been registered against him and a search for the man was underway.

On September 15, President Alvi drew widespread criticism, especially on social media platforms, for his VIP protocol when he visited Karachi the first time after assuming office. Media sources reported that members of FixIt campaign, which is run by PTI leader Alamgir Khan, were also booked by the Sindh Police for volunteering to clear out the traffic jam caused by the president’s VIP protocol. Reportedly, a case was registered against the campaign members at Tipu Sultan Police Station.

After this incident, President took to Twitter to say that he was embarrassed with the huge protocol. He said that he was offered VIP protocol by the authorities despite his request. “The long chain of official cars following me is despite the fact that I asked all officials present at the airport not to embarrass me with a huge protocol. One or two cars in front and one or two cars behind may satisfy their security needs. This did not happen. We have to try harder,” he had tweeted.

Published in Daily Times, September 24^th 2018.