Amid controversies surrounding President Arif Alvi’s apparent reluctance to work with the new government, the National Assembly has urged him to discharge his duties in accordance to Article 48 of the Constitution of Pakistan, and to refrain from ‘biased’ behaviour.
The parliament passed a resolution, moved by MNA Mohsin Dawar, condemning what it called non-partisan behavior of President Arif Alvi, who recently rejected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s summary notices on the removal of the Punjab governor.
The resolution said that obedience to the Constitution and the law is the obligation of every citizen within Pakistan.
“According to the oath of the office of the president, he or she will not allow his personal interests to influence his official conduct or his official decisions. He is also bound to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution,” it read.
“This House takes strong exception to the Constitutional stance taken by the President and refusal to adhere to implement the Constitution in letter and spirit, and also to follow the norms of parliamentary democracy.”
The movement was opposed by Ghous Bux Mahar and Dr Fehmida Mirza of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) by pointing out the lack of quorum needed for the resolution to be passed.
Previously President Arif Alvi had rejected two summary notices sent by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif suggesting the removal and replacement of Omar Sarfaraz Cheema with Balighur Rehman as the governor of Punjab.
Arif Alvi had issued a statement ‘strongly rejecting’ the Prime Minister’s advice, saying that the governor of Punjab could not be removed as long as he enjoyed the pleasure of the president.
Shortly after, the cabinet division of the state department issued a notification announcing the removal of Omar Sarfaraz Cheema from his role as governor.
