- President Alvi sent PTI General Secretary’s letter to PM Kakkar.
- Ayub discussed the erosion of fundamental rights, equal opportunity.
- Alvi underlines the constitutional rights of citizens to support any party.
President Arif Alvi on Wednesday slammed Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar over concerns about his party, the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s “erosion of fundamental rights” and non-availability of a level playing field for all political parties. Informed UL. -Haq Kakar.
The development comes as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is set to conduct “free, fair and transparent” general elections in the country on February 8.
The President forwarded a letter written by PTI General Secretary Omar Ayub Khan, outlining the concerns of the former ruling party.
In the letter, Ayub expressed PTI’s concern over the erosion of fundamental rights, particularly enforced disappearances, forced conversion of political loyalists, absence of a level playing field for major political parties, crackdown on media and ill-treatment of women political activists. In relation to. Through prolonged illegal detention.
Meanwhile, in a separate letter to the Prime Minister, President Alvi said that “it is of utmost importance that the caretaker government under the leadership of the Prime Minister strives as a neutral entity to provide a level playing field for all political parties”.
He adds: “In this context, it was reassuring to hear your recent statements in which you said that it was [the] The policy of the caretaker government is that all registered political parties should get equal rights and opportunities to contest the upcoming elections.”
According to a series of tweets, the President highlighted in the letter that democracy is “the only viable way forward” for the state and people of Pakistan, the essence of which is to give people the right to participate in political activities. Able to express their opinions through independent media.
He remarked that this resonates in Pakistan that for free, fair and credible elections, all political parties and leaders have the right to contest elections and it is up to the people to decide.
Furthermore, Alvi further stated in the letter that “the President of Pakistan represents the unity of the Republic as the head of state under Article 41 of the Constitution of Pakistan”.
It said, “Therefore, both the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan as well as all institutions were ‘duty bound’ to protect the rights of the citizens enshrined in the Constitution.
“He [Alvi] He said that for the same reason, he was sending the letter containing PTI’s allegations, which was also debated in the media in connection with the increasing cases of forced disappearance of persons with known political affiliations.
He said such instances become a matter of concern when such actions result in changes in political associations and/or loyalties.
“The issue became sensitive when women political activists were also detained for long periods or repeatedly arrested after relief from the courts,” she said.
The President then referred to Article 4 of the Constitution regarding the “inalienable right of every citizen” to treatment according to the law and Article 17 regarding the right of citizens to “form associations and/or become members of any political party.” . ,
Furthermore, he said that Article 19 of the Constitution states that every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and freedom of the press.
Concluding the letter, President Alvi asked Prime Minister Kakkar, “being the present head of the government, to look into the above issues”.
