PPP senior leader and Senator Raza Rabbani has demanded of President Dr Arif Alvi to resign from the post of Head of the State accusing him of not letting go of his affiliation with a political party which installed him to the office, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.

While asking the President to step down, Rabbani levelled six allegations against him saying he failed to renounce his political affiliation despite being the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces as has been enshrined in Article 243/2 IC. Unfortunately, his political affiliation has obstructed him to perform his duties as the Supreme Commander. 

It’s a pity that President Alvi has failed to perform his duties, the senator added. 

The PPP leader further alleged that Dr Alvi could not attain any maturity while holding the office of President because of the fact that he has primarily remained the PTI worker. 

He said this was not for the first time that the President Alvi has failed to perform his duties due to his political affiliation. 

President Alvi has been embroiled in a controversy as why he didn’t attend the funeral prayers of the martyrs who lost their lives in the military helicopter crash in Balochistan on Aug 1. 

In a series of tweets last night, he tried to explain his position. The ISPR too denounced on Friday the ‘regretful social media campaign’ after the recent helicopter crash in which six army officials, including a lieutenant general, embraced martyrdom.

President Alvi tweeted: “There is unnecessary controversy on why I did not attend Janaza of the Shaheeds recently. This gives me an opportunity to condemn in unequivocal terms the despicable tweets by those who are neither aware of our culture or our religion. When respect for Shahadat is also present in the Quran, how can we desecrate the memory & the sacrifice of those whom Allah has given eternal life. Like all Pakistanis I have admired the Shuhuda all my life.

Rabbani further alleged that being President, he tried to throw spanners in the work of Parliament as a legislative body using Article 89. 

President Alvi deprived the Parliament of its right to legislate through the reissuance of the PMDC Ordinance.

The PPP senator accused the President of acting against the law while appointing heads of different institutes. These appointments were later cancelled by the courts. 

He alleged that the President sent a bogus reference against the judges of the superior judiciary on the wrong advice under Article 209 of the Constitution.

The president issued notification of the NFC representative from Balochistan which was later declared null and void.

Rabbani also alleged that President Alvi issued the direction to dissolve the National Assembly on the advice of a ‘disqualified prime minister’.

Reporter Mohsinul Mulk