President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday returned the services of Mr Waqar Ahmed, Secretary to President, back to the Establishment Division immediately following his Sunday’s denial of not signing the Army Act and Official Secrets Act (Amendment) Bills which are now enforced, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
In a post uploaded on X, formerly Twitter, President Alvi said he has written a letter to the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, directing to withdraw Waqar Ahmed as he is no more required at the Presidency.
In view of the definite statement of yesterday, President’s Secretariat has written a letter to Principal Secretary to Prime Minister that the services of Mr. Waqar Ahmed, Secretary to President, are no more required and are surrendered to the Establishment Division, immediately.
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) August 21, 2023
President Alvi said it has also been desired that Ms Humaira Ahmed, a BPS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, may be posted as Secretary to the President.
It has also been desired that Ms. Humaira Ahmed, a BPS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, may be posted as Secretary to the President.
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) August 21, 2023
Business at Presidency as usual
Apart for these couple of tweets, President Alvi remained busy in his routine work at Presidency on Monday as nothing had happened.
President Alvi tweeted on Sunday that he did not sign the Official Secrets Amendment Bill 2023 and Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2023 as he disagreed with these laws. He said he asked his staff to return the bills unsigned within stipulated time to make them ineffective.
In the wake of this astonishing revelation, there was a hue and cry on the media that the President should resign. But instead of stepping down, the President continued performing the routine duties of the Presidency without any pause.
President Alvi held a meeting with the Auditor General of Pakistan today who presented him the fiscal year 2022-23 report of the AGP Office.
The meeting was held in a cordial manner and the President also posed happily for pictures.
https://twitter.com/PresOfPakistan/status/1693561431864537568
President Alvi also met with the Hajj Minister of Saudi Arabia.
Reporter Awais Kiyani