Any attempt to bring the warring parties together should be commended, given the country’s tumultuous political history. In this regard, President Dr Arif Alvi has been attempting for some time to put an end to or lessen the considerable tension that has existed in the nation for the previous four years. He acknowledged that his efforts had not been successful because they had produced little to no results. Although he did not explain the fruitless outcomes, it appears that either both sides or just one of the two sides lacked faith in his ability to mediate. The president claims that all efforts to reach an agreement on an election date have failed despite his best efforts to do so. He also attempted, but failed, to revive the “on the same page” era of political parties. He made an effort to persuade the administration that the political abuse of the NAB statute is unacceptable but was unsuccessful. It is a well-known fact that institutions must have the authority to carry out their functions for democracy to function. Every organisation and every circumstance, such as the selection of the army chief, benefit from consultation.
The president claimed he also made an effort to strengthen ties between Imran Khan, a former prime minister, and the ruling class. During the three and a half years that his party was in power when phoney lawsuits were being brought against political rivals in the name of accountability, one can question the president about why he did not begin to play a reconciliatory role. During that time, when unfounded measures were being taken against the judges of the higher judiciary, secret agencies were pressuring lawmakers to pass laws and support particular candidates for parliamentary positions. Even after the no-confidence vote against Imran Khan was introduced and an attempt to change the government based on a diplomatic post was unsuccessful, the honourable president did not attempt to take on this function during the time that his party was in power.
The president did not appear when the campaign was started, alleging an American plot to overthrow the Imran Khan government. The president frequently adopted a mindset akin to that of a political party worker rather than adhering to his constitutional duties as the head of the state, including the choice of the governor of Punjab. The president failed to act quickly to put an end to Imran Khan’s unjustified campaign against the military hierarchy. The prime minister has the final say under the constitution, thus the president’s wish to consult with the opposition before appointing the army chief is inappropriate and without foundation. The future is now obvious as the president has admitted that his bid to convene the elections early was unsuccessful.
According to its announcements, the current coalition administration will only hold elections after the constitutional era is over. To succeed in future elections and avoid experiencing failure in the economy and other areas like in the past, it should be urged one plays their part with understanding and better planningnning.
