I’m trying to bring stakeholders together: Alvi

LAHORE:

President Dr Arif Alvi on Saturday revealed that he was trying in his personal capacity to bring stakeholders together and resolve their differences to reduce political polarisation in the national interest.

Without divulging further details, the president said that although it was not his constitutional role to end the impasse, he was trying to mediate between the sides to defuse the tensions.

He further said PTI chief Imran Khan has authorised him to put forward his demands of early elections to the establishment, underscoring that he was merely mediating between sides and “not brokering any deal for anyone”.

Alvi’s statement comes amid swirling rumours that he has been tasked to bring down the political temperature in the country.

Speaking to a gathering attended by a handful of senior journalists at Governor House, the president stressed that it was in the best interest of the country to go for early elections and claimed that even the ruling political parties wanted them.

“It was PTI during days when it was in government who had opposed early elections, but now even they want snap polls; courts had enquired from political parties about early elections, indicating that even courts wanted political parties to consider going for early elections."

Also read: Alvi in the crosshairs after Imran’s letter

President Arif Alvi said, “I am trying to reduce tensions and bring ‘parties’ to the negotiating table to save democracy from derailing and improve the situation". He conceded that negotiations are underway to reduce friction but said that matters “are being kept under wraps to ensure the process remains on track”.

It may be recalled here it was widely speculated that the president’s Lahore trip was also part of the negotiation efforts and that important meetings were expected to end this stalemate during his trip.

Army chief’s appointment

To a question about any consultation on the appointment of the new army chief, Alvi said that the constitution did not allow any consultation on this issue.

“For democracy to stay on track it was important for institutions and political parties to have healthy working relationships,” he said, adding that people, in general, have lost trust in state institutions.

Responding to a question, Alvi also clarified that he does not take instructions from PTI chief Imran Khan nor does he seek his counsel on issues pertaining to his office. He said that he was on friendly terms with Imran Khan and said that this was never the understanding between them. “Issues are discussed when we meet and that’s that.”

‘On the same page with Imran’

To a question regarding an impression that he seems to be cordial towards the powers while Imran Khan takes a toughened line, Alvi said that he and Imran were on the same page when it came to the goals of the party.

In response to a question regarding undue meddling of establishment in affairs of the state, the president said that he cannot rewrite the history of Pakistan as “what’s done is done; I can only work for a better tomorrow”.

Read more: 'Thieves' sitting abroad taking country's important decisions, says Imran at long march

He mused that we in Pakistan have found a novel use of containers that the world utilises for trade, alluding to the usage of containers in politics and security.

Meanwhile, regarding bringing a confidence vote, he laid forth his constraint and also did not give any clear answer regarding threats by the federal government of imposing governor rule in Punjab.

Regarding Arshad Sharif’s murder, Alvi said he too had received a letter from the slain journalist, which he had forwarded with his comments to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

President Arif Alvi since Imran Khan’s departure from power has been playing his role his defusing tension between PTI and the establishment. Of late, he has reportedly organised a meeting between Imran khan and power quarters to end this deadlock.

It is pertinent to mention here that entry for guests for this event was kept from the back gate and entry from the front gates, used otherwise for events at Governor Houses, was denied to guests of the president’s function.

It was speculated that since Governor Punjab Baleeg Ur Rehman was a PML-N appointee so this discriminatory attitude was kept towards guests of the president's event.

President Alvi’s remarks came the same day his party chief criticised Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other party leaders for holding a meeting in London to decide the Pakistan Army's next chief as he addressed participants of the party's Haqeeqi Azadi March in Lala Musa.

"The important decisions of the country are taken abroad and by those who have looted Pakistan for the last 30 years," Imran Khan said in reference to Shehbaz purportedly discussing the key appointment and other issues of national importance with his elder brother Nawaz Sharif during his unscheduled London visit.

The PTI chairman also reiterated that the army chief should be appointed on merit and dismissed allegations that he was making the important appointment controversial. "I never made it controversial".

The PTI long march resumed on Thursday, a week after the assassination attempt on Imran Khan that had earlier brought the march to a halt.