President Arif Alvi has said that it was not a terrible idea to name the next chief of army staff before the deadline of November.
The comment was made in response to a query during an interaction with journalists. The idea that the new army leader be chosen in advance due to the nation’s current political crisis was put to the president, who was asked what he thought of it.
He said, “It’s not such a horrible idea.”
President Alvi after meeting with the army, navy, or air chiefs, stated that it was proposed he “play his part”, which he “cannot do”.
He asserted that only when all parties are in agreement can dialogue take place. Only in that situation, he added, President House would fulfill its duties.
The president stated that the “neutrals” must constantly maintain their neutrality.
He went on to say that, as Pakistan’s president, he lacked the constitutional authority to request that parties engaged in conversation.
The president said that the problem was a ground fact that could be resolved by communication, he continued, adding that “the elephant in the room has not appeared now; it has been there for 50 years”.
He claimed that since the coalition government took office, he received 74 summaries, 69 of which he signed and forwarded the same day he received them.
He claimed that there was no compulsion to withhold the summaries of the NAB amendment Ordinance, electronic voting devices, and Punjab governor.
When questioned, President Alvi responded that he had not discussed the topic of EVMs or the NAB amendment legislation with chairman of the PTI Imran Khan, and that their most recent conversation had to do with the Punjab governor.
President expressed sadness that such an environment has been established in regards to the current state of affairs at the highest courts.
The President stated, “I forwarded the reference regarding Justice Isa that was submitted to me.”
I had respected Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s decision on the houbara bustard, he said, adding, “I don’t want to stir up controversy once more.”
According to him, a person should alter their opinions if the situation or the time warranted it.
President Alvi said that parliamentary system was preferable, and he opposed the president’s power under Article 2B of the Pakistani Constitution to dissolve assemblies.
