Will Alvi be any different from others?
AFTER HIS ELECTION, HE PROMISED TO MAKE PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE INTO ACTIVE AND PEOPLE FRIENDLY PLATFORM
Though Pakistan’s president by and large is considered a ceremonial figure and has nothing much to do with regard to running the day-to-day affairs of the government or making decisions in important matters, yet the honour attached to being ‘head of the state’ is something many in the country long for.
After his election as 13th president of the country, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) candidate and MNA from Karachi Dr Arif Alvi promised to the nation that he would turn the office of the president into an active and lively people-friendly office.
The statement has been received well and is largely seen in the backdrop of the legendary ‘inactiveness’ displayed by Alvi’s predecessor President Mamnoon Hussain in delegating powers during his five-year career.
Dr Alvi has underlined that he would strive to resolve issues like water scarcity, delay in justice, health, education, unemployment, climate challenges and provision of basic amenities to the poor of Pakistan and would be the president of Pakistan and not of a single party.
However, how he plans to do that remains a big question
mark. According to the constitutional experts, Dr Alvi will have to stay away from politics.
Past glory
The office of the president of the country was once active and considered the centre of all powers when Article 58(2)b existed, they said.
However, 11th President of the country Asif Ali Zardari voluntarily withdrew those powers and his government introduced 18th Amendment on April 19, 2010 that did away with the controversial clause of the constitution thus stripping the president of the powers to dissolve assemblies.
After Zardari, Mamnoon Hussain became the 12th President and assumed an office that was actively and politically run by Zardari and quietly surrendered all his powers to the Prime Minister’s discretion.