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ISLAMABAD, March 26 (PTI) Prime Minister Sheikh Baz Sharif hit back at President Arif Alvi on Sunday, accusing him of being partisan and following instructions from his party, the Pakistani Jamaat al-Shaq (PTI), instead of remaining neutral as head of state.
In a letter two days ago, President Alvi accused the Prime Minister of using excessive force against politicians, political workers and journalists during the recent clashes with former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s PTI.
The president, who was a member of the Khan Party before taking office, also asked Sharif to direct all authorities to assist the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in holding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces under the order of the Supreme Court.
In his five-page letter to President Alvi, Sharif said he had written to “clarify the government’s record” and put the latter’s “partisan attitude” on record.
Parts of Alvi, he said, read like “a press release from the opposition PTI, whose one-sided anti-government views you continue to publicly support despite your oath of office/as president”.
He said the president had repeatedly violated his oath, including an order last April to dissolve the National Assembly at the behest of then prime minister Imran Khan, and his failure to fulfill his constitutional duty to swear to Sharif his election as the prime minister.
“Despite the above and other circumstances in which you actively worked to undermine the constitutionally elected government, I have made every effort to maintain a good working relationship with you. However, the content, tone and language of your letter compelled me to respond ,” he said in the letter.
Sharif said the actions of law enforcement agencies were conducted in accordance with the law.
“It is regrettable that, ostensibly due to your allegiance to your political party, you failed to notice the pure lawlessness, blatant disregard of court orders, attacks on law enforcement agencies, destruction of public property, attempts to create chaos, civil unrest and political unrest, in short In short, bring the country to the brink of economic default and civil war through PTI,” he said.
He said PTI’s total disregard for the law has damaged Pakistan’s image in the international community and negatively impacted the future of democracy and human rights situation.
He also complained that Alvi, as president, never commented on Khan’s actions because of his “complete disregard for court orders, aggressive, rather belligerent approach to the political order”.
“It is regrettable again that during the PTI administration, you never made your voice heard or expressed your concerns as you did in the past in the letter,” he said.
He further said it was “inappropriate” for Alvi to mention meaningful consultations between the president and prime minister.
“Mr. President, in exercising your duties, you must act on the advice of the Cabinet or the Prime Minister pursuant to Article 48(1),” he wrote.
Referring to the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said that the federal government has given all support to the ECP, which is an autonomous body that is free to decide the elections.
Sharif also said he was “fully aware” of his responsibilities, claiming that his government was fully committed to upholding, protecting and defending the Constitution but would not allow anyone to break the law or create unrest.
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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