ISLAMABAD: Leaders from across the political spectrum — including the PTI’s opponents — reacted to President Arif Alvi’s claim of being undermined by his staff, with some demanding his resignation after he claimed he had not signed the two bills that were passed into law recently.

Representatives of the country’s leading political parties said Mr Alvi had marred the sanctity of his office by putting an important and sensitive matter out in the open, instead of conducting an inquiry.

Former interior minister and PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah called for a discreet inquiry against President Alvi, his secretary and military secretary.

“No other person except the president, his secretary and his military secretary know the facts of this matter.”

PML-N calls for his resignation; Rabbani wants ‘entire Senate’ to investigate the matter

He said the issue could not be resolved through merely a tweet.

“His [the president’s] tweet has caused embarrassment in front of the whole world,” he said, adding that such an irresponsible statement by the president didn’t match his position and stature.

‘Seeking apology is dishonesty’

Another PML-N leader and ex-defence minister Khawaja Asif said the notification which turned the two bills into law was issued two days ago.

“Seeking an apology two days after the notifications is dishonesty,” he said, referring to Mr Alvi’s post seeking “forgiveness” from those who will be affected by the laws.

He said the president remained silent when several wrongdoings were committed by the PTI government, including the misuse of laws against opposition parties and attacks on government installations.

PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said the president’s remarks have raised questions about his mental health and called for his immediate “mental checkup”.

He said the entire issue has lent credence to the claims of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari that PTI was a party bent on creating division and chaos.

President Alvi had committed a conspiracy by proving himself as a “servant” of his party’s chief Imran Khan, Mr Bukhari added.

He said the president’s tweet has raised more questions than answers.

Holistic inquiry

His colleague and PPP leader Mian Raza Rabbani refrained from lambasting Mr Alvi, but called for a holistic inquiry into the matter.

The allegations levelled by the president were “very serious and have far-reaching effects on the entire system”.

Under Article 50, the president was a part of parliament and therefore, an inquiry should be conducted by a committee comprising all members of the Senate, Mr Rabbani demanded.

“The president and his concerned staff should appear before the Senate.”

“If the investigation reveals that the president has misrepresented facts, he should be tried under the law,” the PPP leader added.

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who belongs to MQM-P, said he was unaware as to who in the presidency deceived Mr Alvi.

“How can someone cheat the president, only he can tell this,” he said while talking to the media in Karachi.

MQM’s position

Meanwhile, Mr Tessori’s party has sought time to divulge their position on the matter.

MQM-P convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that his party would come up with an official position after discussing it with the senior leadership.

He was talking to the media after attending the soyem of MQM-P leader Kanwar Naveed Jamil in Hyderabad.

Mr Siddiqui said the president’s statement was a sensitive matter and “MQM-P will come up with its official position on it after going through the facts.”

“[The] sequence of events needed to be discussed before commenting on it.”

Only the president himself can disclose facts if someone in the presidency forged his signatures, the MQM-P leader said.

Go home, says Aimal Wali Awami National Party leader Aimal Wali Khan said President Alvi shouldn’t occupy the office if he has no control over his staff.

“Go home and not give any other reason for more embarrassment,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2023