No breakthrough in backdoor talks, Alvi admits.

LAHORE -- At a time of tense relAaAtions between the military establishment and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) following PTI chief Imran Khan's multiple accusations against senior military officers, President Dr Arif Alvi confirmed his 'backdoor' efforts to reach out to all political players as well as the powers that be to find a workable solution to end the chaos, though he admits his efforts haven't borne fruit as yet.

Amidst the charged political scenario, President Alvi and Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa were both in Lahore on Saturday, and there was speculation that the two along with Mr Khan would meet 'behind closed doors' for 'negotiations', but no such huddle had taken place till the filing of this report by Saturday night. Dr Alvi has already facilitated at least one direct meeting between Gen Bajwa and Mr Khan at the Presidency a couple of months ago, by his own admission.

Replying to a question on the all-important appointment of the new army chief expected in the next few days, President Alvi told journalists at the Governor House on Saturday that the Constitution did not allow consultation over the appointment, in reference to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's reported discussions with his elder brother Nawaz Sharif who was a convict. However, he added there was no harm in certain consultations either (with stakeholders).

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He further said: 'Backdoor talks are under way with the institutions that matter to sort out the differences (among the players). If the talks succeed, they will be in the public domain. I am playing the role of a mediator as the supreme commander of the armed forces, but I am not a broker.'

Dr Alvi, who belongs to the PTI, added he was also playing his role in defusing tensions between the institution and party Chairman Imran Khan. 'It is my effort that relations between the establishment and Imran Khan improve.'

He also talked about the 'task' his party chief had entrusted him with regarding fresh elections. 'It will be better if fresh elections are announced,' he remarked.

He...