Politicians react to President Alvi’s claims

Reactions from politicians are pouring in following President Alvi’s claims that he has not signed the Official Secrets Amendment Bill 2023 and Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2023.

Mr. President says ‘staff undermined his will and command’.

His remarks comes a day after it was reported that President Alvi assented to the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Pakistan Army Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

PTI leader Farrukh Habib called the development “extremely shocking”.

Habib in a tweet said, “It’s extremely shocking how could two bills signed without the consent of the president of Pakistan. It’s mean someone hostage the president’s office to sign bills forcefully? it’s the collapse of the whole system and the constitutional powers of the president of Pakistan is miss used by someone else. The lawyers’ community of the country should stand up for the supremacy of the constitution now.”

It’s extremely shocking how could two bills signed without the consent of president of Pakistan. Its mean someone hostage president office to sign bills forcefully? it’s collapse of whole system and constitutional powers of the president of Pakistan is miss used by someone else.… https://t.co/dRBdnZdYPr

— Farrukh Habib (@FarrukhHabibISF) August 20, 2023

Former finance minister Ishaq Dar in a tweet said President Alvi’s remarks were “unbelievable” and urged him to resign on account of “having failed to run his office effectively”.

“Minimum morality warrants Alvi Sb to resign, having failed to run his office effectively, efficiently, and as per Rules of Business — official work is conducted on files and implementation ensured — such statements only indicate playing with the gallery. God help us!” Ishaq Dar said.

Unbelievable —minimum morality warrants Alvi Sb to resign, having failed to run his office effectively, efficiently and as per Rules of Business — official work is conducted on files and implementation ensured — such statements only indicate playing with the gallery.
God help us! pic.twitter.com/UopZRVe6Tq

— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) August 20, 2023

PML-N senator Irfan Siddiqui called on for the President of Pakistan to resign over the controversy.

صدر علوی کھل کر بات کریں۔اگر بلوں سے اختلاف تھا تو انہوں نے کیوں اپنے اعتراضات درج نہ کئے؟ہاں یانہ کے بغیر بل واپس بھیجنے کا کیا مقصد تھا؟ میڈیا پہ خبریں آنے کے باوجود وہ دو دن کیوں چپ رہے؟بولے بھی تو معاملہ اور الجھا دیا۔اگر ان کا سٹاف بھی ان کے بس میں نہیں تو مستعفی ہو کر گھر…

— Senator Irfan Siddiqui (@IrfanUHSiddiqui) August 20, 2023

Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed reacting to the development said: “This has opened a new pandora box if the situation is really like what the president has written, then it is an insult to the state of Pakistan, parliament, legislation, as well as 240 million Pakistanis”.

“Matters will once again go to the courts. The situation in Pakistan can be estimated from this situation of the highest office. May Allah have mercy on Pakistan.” he added.

یہ تو ایک نیا پنڈورابکس کھل گیا،اگر صورتحال واقعی ایسا ہی ہے جیسا کہ صدر نے لکھا ہے تو یہ ریاست پاکستان،پارلیمنٹ، قانون سازی کیساتھ ساتھ 24کڑوڑ پاکستانیوں کی توہین ہے۔معاملات ایک دفعہ پھر عدالتوں میں جائینگے۔ملک کے اعلی ترین منصب/آفس کے اس حال سےپاکستان کے حالات کا اندازہ… https://t.co/kSgt4qeu0f

— Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan | سینیٹر مشتاق احمد خان (@SenatorMushtaq) August 20, 2023

PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman in a statement said the president’s claims had raised questions about his capability to manage the presidential office.

“Does he want to say that someone else signs the bills under his nose? If this is so then the president should immediately resign from his office. If your staff is not in your control then leave the presidential office,” she said adding that the president was no longer fit to continue in his constitutional position.

Following President Alvi’s revelations, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) expressed its deep concerns, saying that his post was unusual, alarming, and unimaginable in every aspect.

آفیشل سیکریٹ ایکٹ اور آرمی ایکٹ میں ترامیم کے مسوّدوں پر دستخطوں کے معاملے پر صدرِمملکت کی ٹویٹ

پاکستان تحریک انصاف کی جانب سے صدرِمملکت کی ٹویٹ پر گہری تشویش کا اظہار

صدرِمملکت کی ٹویٹ ہر لحاظ سے غیرمعمولی، تشویشناک اور ناقابلِ تصوّر ہے،

صدرِمملکت کی ٹویٹ کے بعد پوری قوم… pic.twitter.com/hWnztnte1Q

— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 20, 2023

In a startling turn of events, President Arif Alvi on Sunday claimed that he did not sign the bills amending the Official Secrets Act and the Pakistan Army Act into law as he “disagreed with these laws”.

The president alleged that his staff “undermined” his will and command.