Alvi takes oath as 13th president of Pakistan
FORMER DENTIST HAS BEEN A KEY CONFIDANTE OF THE PM ON PARTY AND NATIONAL ISSUES
Dr. Arif Alvi took the oath of office yesterday as the next president for a five-year term, completing the final phase of change of government and allowing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to focus on its ambitious 100day ‘Naya Pakistan’ plan.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar administered the oath of office to the country’s 13th president at a simple ceremony here at the President House.
The event was attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan, outgoing president Mamnoon Hussain, governors, chief ministers and other officials and dignitaries.
The United States yesterday congratulated Dr. Alvi. “The United States looks towards working with Pakistan to advance our shared interests, such as regional peace, stability, and prosperity,” said Heather Nauert, the spokesperson of the US State Department in a statement.
Pakistan’s new President Arif Alvi was sworn in at a ceremony in Islamabad yesterday, concluding the country’s peaceful transfer of power to its new government after a turbulent election campaign.
His appointment further cements the ruling party’s power after controversial polls in July — which were tainted by claims of military meddling and ballot rigging — saw former cricket champion Imran Khan elected prime minister.
Arif Alvi, a close ally of Imran and one of the founders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, becomes Pakistan’s 13th president, replacing Mamnoon Hussain.
Saudi minister present
A vote this week saw him elected by more than a thousand lawmakers from both houses of parliament and the four provincial assemblies. Imran and his cabinet attended the ceremony led by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, along with armed forces chiefs and senior Islamabad-based diplomats.
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Saudi Information Minister Awwad Bin Saleh Al Awwad were also present at the event.
Alvi swore to “bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan” and to carry out his duties “in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of Pakistan.”
A former dentist, Alvi has been a key confidante of Imran on both party and national issues. He served as the PTI’s secretary general for eight years from 2006, and was elected an MP in the southern megacity of Karachi in 2013, winning reelection in the July vote.
A father of four and enthusiastic Twitter user, Alvi was shot and wounded during a protest against military dictator Ayub Khan in Lahore in 1969. He still has a bullet embedded in his right arm. The election of the PTI marks the end of decades of rotating leadership between the ousted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party, punctuated by periods of army rule.