Pakistan's president urges 'equal' opportunities to all parties in upcoming polls

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – Pakistani President Arif Alvi urged providing "equal" opportunities to all political parties and their leadership Tuesday to contest a forthcoming national vote, according to a statement.

“Bitterness should end, and a way should be carved for cooperation and forgiveness,” Alvi said, it said.

He stressed the need for "free, fair and inclusive" elections.

His remarks coincided with arrests and cases that activists and leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan are facing ahead of general elections at the end of January.

Alvi belongs to the PTI.

Those detained are accused of being involved in violent protests and attacks on military installations across the country after Khan's arrest in May.