Shehbaz gives a befitting reply to President Alvi. He wrote an official letter to the President with a tough tone and suggested to remain bipartisan in the current political crisis. On March 24, 2023, President Arif Alvi wrote a detailed letter to the Prime Minister seeking his attention into what is happening in the country. President Alvi took this opportunity to criticize the Shehbaz Sharif led PML-N government for various actions. The president sought his attention on the current political crisis as well as postponement of elections. He also raised question on arrests of PTI’s workers across Pakistan.
This was a public notice for the government. And, PMLN government chose to give a befitting reply to the President.
Presidency is only a Post Office: Shehbaz tells Alvi
Yes. The PMLN government categorically informed President Arif Alvi that Presidency has a limited role in the federation. “The President must act on and in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or the Prime Minister under clause (1) of Article 48,” reminded Shehbaz Sharif.
He further stated, “In very limited instances, the President acts in his discretion under the Constitution.”
Most interestingly, the letter states, “keep the President informed. Nothing more and nothing less.”
It was clearly stated to the President that he has no role in policy making or interfering in the political affairs of the government. he is simply a figurehead who ought to act within his pants.
Elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Shehbaz also touched upon the subject of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. He stated: “The ECP has announced October 8, 2023 to be the new date for the polls in Punjab after taking into account the ground realities. All federal and provincial governmental authorities furnished the relevant information to the ECP. Being the constitutional body charged with the duty to organize and conduct elections, it is ultimately the ECP’s decision to assess whether the circumstances are conducive for organizing and conducting free and fair elections, as required under clause (3) of Article 218. I do, however, wish to point out that you did not object to the use of language and rather aggressive attitude of the federal ministers of the previous government, who actively attempted to undermine the authority and credibility of the ECP.”
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Stop Acting as PTI Stooge
Well, it didn’t use the words. Yet, it did say all the same. “At the behest of the PTI, you gave dates for the general elections to the Provincial Assemblies of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Yet again, your decision to give date for the elections to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, which was dissolved by the order of the Governor, was set aside by the Supreme Court vide its order dated March 1, 2023 passed in SMC No. 1/2023. You have not raised any concerns on the malafide dissolution of the Provincial Assemblies of the two provinces, that too at the behest of and to satisfy the ego of the Chairman, PTI,” states the letter.
It also touches upon the silence of President Alvi on the attacks on LEAs in different protests of PTI. It states, “Regrettably and ostensibly due to your party allegiance, you have failed to note the sheer violation of laws, contumacious disregard of court orders, attacking the law enforcement agencies, damaging public property, attempts to create chaos, civil and political unrest and in short, to bring the country to the brink of economic default and civil war, by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).”
Read the full Transcript of Shehbaz Sharif’s Letter to President Alvi.
