'Not convinced' about foreign conspiracy hatched to oust Imran Khan: President Alvi

'Not convinced' about foreign conspiracy hatched to oust Imran Khan: President Alvi

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – President Arif Alvi on Monday said that he was "not convinced" that there was a foreign conspiracy hatched to oust the former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supremo Imran Khan from power, and called for an investigation into the matter. In an interview with a private TV channel, President Alvi said that dialogue was necessary to settle political issues between the government and the opposition, and that Parliament was a suitable place for negotiations, but talks could also be held outside it. He said the country was facing multiple issues, including inflation and debt burden, and in the first phase, dialogue could be started among the second-tier leadership of the political parties to remove misunderstandings and bring unity to the people.

People were concerned about the political polarization and one cause was that federal and provincial governments were led by different political parties, he viewed. He said Imran Khan had to decide about sitting with the government on issues of the economy and elections. In response to a question, Dr Alvi said article six of the constitution could only be applied to those who abrogate or hold the constitution in abeyance with the use of force. He said he had been criticising successive governments over the issues of press freedom and the weakening economy, and his criticism was not limited to the current coalition government.

Speaking about the role of the army in national affairs, the President said the army was neutral and it did not have a role to play in political matters. Replying to another question, he said the army should play its constitutional role, such as it was performing during natural disasters and recent floods, and while advising the government on foreign affairs.

However, politicians were the biggest stakeholders in the country and they should be seen to be playing their role as they were connected to the people, he observed. The President was of the view that a broader consultation should be held on the issue of the appointment of the chief of army staff. The government should consult PTI chief Imran Khan on the matter. He further said there was a possibility of early elections, adding that in the past, the Pakistan Democratic Movement and PTI both wanted early polls. The Supreme Court considered the issue of early elections and consulted the politicians.

"I am trying to evolve an understanding on these issues and I will facilitate the process. The most important issue is the holding of free and fair elections." The President said he advocated for the last 12 years, the introduction of the use of electronic voting machines in the elections and rigging on polling day could be stopped with these machines.

He remarked that no elections since 1970 were considered free and fair, he remarked. He said use of technology was a way to hold transparent elections and that India had been using electronic machines since 1985.

To a question, he said Imran Khan got frustrated by the way his government was removed, so he refused to sit in the National Assembly. Imran Khan went back to the people and gained more popularity because of his stance, he opined.

He said PTI could take another decision about its return to the National Assembly.

He emphasised that the right to protest should be ensured and that no issue should be settled through the use of force. The President called for an investigation into the issue of the cypher and reminded the United States that the government of Pakistan had issued a demarche to the United States to convey that the words used in the cypher were not appropriate. He said he was not convinced about a conspiracy for the removal of the government of Imran Khan but sent a letter on the issue of cipher to the chief justice to remove his doubts.

The President called for an investigation into the issue of the cypher and reminded that the government of Pakistan had issued a demarche to the United States to convey that the words used in the cypher were not appropriate.

He said he was not convinced about a conspiracy for the removal of the government of Imran Khan but sent a letter on the issue of cypher to the chief justice to remove his doubts.