Pakistan voiced opposition to the injection of politics into the Beijing Olympics on Monday.
Pakistani officials insist they do not foresee any trouble when the torch relay comes to Islamabad this week.
Pakistani officials insist they do not foresee any trouble when the torch relay comes to Islamabad this week. The Olympic flame will arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday. Arif Hassan, Pakistan Olympic Association president, says Islamabad supports the Beijing Olympics, and added that the Games should not be mixed with politics. Hassan said Pakistan has taken all security measures to ensure a peaceful torch relay.
Arif Hassan, Pakistan Olympic Association president, saids, "I think sports should be treated as sports which can be used as a platform for the development of peace in the world. And this is the message that the Beijing Olympics is trying to send," "I am very sure - not just hopeful, I'm very sure - that the people of Pakistan totally support the people of China and are totally in agreement with them in this particular torch relay also. So I am sure that there will be no demonstrations as such that you've seen in other places. I'm very sure of it."
(CCTV April 16, 2008)