Accept people’s mandate to unite country: Arif Alvi

KARACHI: Former President Dr Arif Alvi has said that he took appropriate actions to uphold the constitution and suggested that if anyone wanted to initiate a case against him under Article 6, he should go to the courts.

Without naming the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, he emphasized the importance of recognizing the mandate given by the people to the party to unite the country. He urged those accusing him of unconstitutional actions to pursue cases against him in the courts.

After stepping down from the presidency, Dr Alvi held a press conference in Karachi where he affirmed his commitment to accountability, democratic values, and the principles of his party, particularly its stance against corruption.

He noted the economic decline over the past few years and the resulting chaos in the country, calling for respect for the public mandate.

Dr Alvi highlighted his efforts to bridge divides and unify the country. He mentioned his oath of office, which obliges him to keep secrets while the prime minister is obliged to disclose the same if it is in public interest. He pointed out that the majority of court decisions did not mention Article 6, and reiterated his openness to legal proceedings against him if deemed necessary.

Responding to questions, the former president expressed his opinion that the reference against Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa should not have been sent, a view, he said, was also shared by PTI founder Imran Khan. He called for an investigation into the events of May 9 and stressed the need for political figures and the establishment to play a role in stabilizing the country and its economy.

Dr Alvi insisted on the importance of resolving the issue of reserved seats before convening the assembly session, a stance he had communicated in writing. He suggested that questions regarding mandate theft should be taken to the streets, and remarked that even appointing the IMF director in Pakistan would not fix the economy.

He revealed that he had advised the PTI government against quitting the assemblies. When asked about a future meeting with Imran Khan, Dr Alvi said he had instructed his lawyers to file a request in court for a meeting with the PTI founder, whom he praised as a leader of integrity and unity, unparalleled in the world.

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