President calls for level playing field for all,
Islamabad_“I know that I would have been in jail if I had also been a minister,” he told Hamid Mir during an interview on Geo News.
Responding to a question on the amendments in sections 57(1) and 58(1) of the Election Act 2017, he said that he would not have assented to them as they were against the Constitution.
President Alvi said that he did not expect the election to be held in January next year. However, he said that the apex court will likely give a balanced verdict as it has taken up the case.
He went on to add that the jailed PTI Chief Imran Khan was still his leader.
After Mir recalled Aleema Khan’s statement about him being unhappy with the president, he said that the former prime minister kept a critical eye on him as a friend and a leader.
It is pertinent to mention that Sadiq Sanjrani, who was acting president at the time, signed the Election (Amendment) Bill 2023, paving the way for Nawaz Sharif and Jahangir Tareen to contest elections.
After the approval by the acting president on Monday, the bill has become an act of Parliament, in which the duration of disqualification will not exceed five years if it has not been specifically outlined.
صدر ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کا کہنا ہے کہ انہیں جنوری کے آخری ہفتے میں الیکشن ہونے کا یقین نہیں لیکن انہیں اُمید ہے کہ اعلیٰ عدلیہ الیکشن کو مزید ملتوی نہیں ہونے دیگی ، آپ کے خیال میں صدر صاحب کی اعلیٰ عدلیہ سے امیدیں پوری ہونگی کیا جنوری میں الیکشن ہو جائے گا؟ @ArifAlvi pic.twitter.com/MPm519t0rV
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) October 25, 2023
Arif Alvi said that it is important to give level playing field to all political players before the elections while reiterating that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan is ‘still’ his leader.President Arif Alvi also discussed the challenges Pakistan has faced in establishing democracy.
He highlighted the issue of amendment in Section 57 of the Election Act [allowing election body to unilaterally announce date for polls] which he refused to sign.
President Arif Alvi recalled that instead, then-acting President Sadiq Sanjrani signed the document while he was performing Hajj.
He said that he summoned the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sultan Sikandar Raja to discuss the amendment but CEC did not show up.
Despite receiving advice against it, President Arif Alvi said he wrote another letter and set the election date for November 6, 2023 based on a 90-day timeline after the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA).
He said that he still abides by his tweet regarding the principal secretary who had allegedly given president’s assent to the Official Secrets Act and the Pakistan Army Act without his permission.
He said that the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) is searching for a narrative.
He also said that everyone is demanding a “level playing field” while stressing that it was important to put the country’s atmosphere into one that is liked by the masses.
President Arif Alvi said that he found PTI Chairman Imran Khan to be financially honest and that there was no room for doubt in his patriotism.
He said that Imran Khan still keeps an eye on him, while reiterating that the PTI chairman is “still” his leader.
He recalled that he condemned the May 9 events as president, but said that the path to move forward should also be open. “Through forgiveness, nations can progress,” he said.
President Arif Alvi said that he would have been in jail due to his affiliation with the PTI if he were not in office.
He noted that PTI workers get arrested when they even try to organize a convention which is unlike the situation with other parties. “Everyone should be treated equally,” president opined.
He denied having any role in the reference against incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa sent during PTI’s tenure. The president said he received the reference from the Prime Minister’s Office.
President Arif Alvi said he does not see polls being held in January as planned by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
However, he added that if elections were held where the public mandate was not respected, it would be like putting another chain on the feet of the nation.
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