Responding to online backlash, President Arif Alvi has accepted that selection of Governor House as the venue for the signing of an MoU between his son Dr Awab Alvi’s company and an American group was a ‘mater of poor judgement’.
Awab Alvi had shared a picture from a ceremony hosted at the Governor’s House, Karachi in which an MoU was signed between Alvi Dental and an organisation owned by a friend of Awab’s.
Netizens questioned whether the hosting of a private ceremony at the Governor House, for the promoting of a family business, amounted to a conflict of interest. Journalist Asad Ali Toor questioned if the president was using his official position to benefit his family business.
president @ArifAlvi son, @DrAwab, recently took to Twitter to announce that his family business, Alvi Dental, has signed a MoU with Bringing Smiles USA. president using his official position to benefit his family business? https://t.co/HftX4GhCl1
— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) November 30, 2021
Another journalist Sumaira Khan questioned the use of Governor Sindh’s office for a private business venture.
A personal business venture with Governor Sindh office EMBLEM?? @DrAwab https://t.co/gg6pZVI8wq
— Sumaira Khan (@sumrkhan1) November 30, 2021
One social media user reminded the President of his oath which says that personal interest cannot influence official conduct.
President’s oath and family business – That I will not allow my personal interest to influence my
official conduct or my official decisions” https://t.co/M15GZDPfN4— Ali Aamir siming (@AamirSiming) November 30, 2021
Another user lamented that this amounts to commercial activities by the President.
Commercial activities of President of Pakistan…. https://t.co/sRnkt1CqBM
— Dr. Nadia Khan (@nadiakhaan) November 30, 2021
PML-N MNA Kheeal Das Kohistani said that the facilitation of family business using a public office would be a test case for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Influenced being used openly to facilitate family business,evident violation of oath by President,a visible clear test case for Chairman NAB. https://t.co/XsHekRXu46
— Kheeal Das Kohistani (@KMKheealDas) November 30, 2021
Awab Alvi also took to Twitter to defend his father. He wrote that the President has resigned from Alvi Dental and has a record of supporting all start-ups.
A social media user also pointed out how most newspapers merely carried the press release of the event, without questioning the apparent conflict of interest.
This is the crisis of journalism in Pakistan@brecordernews & @dailytimespak reprinted press release from state-run news agency about President @ArifAlvi overseeing a business deal by his son's compan, signed in Governor House — but they didnt feel the need to ask any questions https://t.co/NUaDWZgFZe pic.twitter.com/hNhP8OLiqv
— Fahad Desmukh (@desmukh) November 30, 2021
