News Desk
Lahore: President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi has said that there was no reason that could justify the postponement of general elections as they were required under the Constitution.
He said this while talking to Lahore-based journalists at Governor House, Lahore on Thursday, adding that he had full assurance in the people of Pakistan, relevant institutions, and the political parties that they would ensure holding of peaceful elections within the timeframe mentioned in the Constitution.
Postponement of Elections
Dr Alvi said that spirit behind caretaker government was to guarantee its neutrality for organizing free, fair, and transparent election by giving all political parties a level playing field to contest the polls. He recalled that this was unfortunate that a number of results in local bodies elections held in Sindh were delayed and reemphasized the usage of technology, particularly Electronic Voting Machines, to ensure speedy compilation of results and to plan free, fair and transparent elections.
Dr Arif Alvi said that during his talk with the Governor of Punjab on election in the province, he had told him that no action would be taken outside the frame of the Constitution.
Responding to a question, the president said that he believed the intent expressed by the establishment to remain out of politics and, therefore, he has urged the politicians to explore this opportunity, take charge, and resort to democratic means of resolving the issues faced by the country.
He further said that history, time and again, had proven that the formula of “minus-one” has never worked in the past and will never work in the future adding that those elements, which were either talking about it or pursuing it, were not doing any service to Pakistan.
He said that it was unfortunate that leading politicians in the country were handcuffed on allegations of contempt and were taken to the court with their faces covered, which, he said, is highly unfortunate as this kind of treatment is meted out to a hardcore terrorist or criminal and not to the politician or any other citizen of the country.
Arif Alvi on Economic Situation
The President further said that the international economic situation and the country’s own weaknesses had resulted in a dire economic scenario and higher inflation and the conditionalities likely to be imposed by the IMF may further put pressure on the socio-economic well-being of the masses. He added that 9th review meeting of the IMF would be held sooner with further conditionalities which needed a fully mandated government in power to prepare the masses for upcoming financial and economic pressure. He hoped that despite worries, he was confident that the country would not default and the economy would regain strength soon.
Replying to another question, the Dr Alvi said that the matter of killing of Arshad Sharif was still an unresolved mystery adding that no journalists or citizens deserved a treatment beyond the legal, lawful, and constitutional safeguards provided to them. He further said that until someone is convicted by the competent court of law, all citizens in the country enjoy all rights provided to them under the law and constitution.
While replying to a question, the President said that during his association with Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf (PTI), he was the one to advise about the formation of a Limited Liability Company for the transfer of donations from outside the country which was the only way for the legal transfer of funds. He added that this was absolutely legal and within the frame of international rules and all such donations were treated in a transparent and legal manner.
