Headline: Senate to Investigate President Alvi’s Claim of Command Undermined in Controversial Bills
The Senate has announced an investigation into President Arif Alvi’s recent claim that officials at the presidency undermined his command regarding two controversial bills. Senator Raza Rabbani, a former Senate chairman, argued that the president should appear before a Senate committee since he is part of parliament under Article 50 of the Constitution.
The controversy arose when President Alvi revealed on Sunday that he had refused to sign into law the Official Secrets Amendment Bill 2023 and the Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2023. These bills aimed to grant authorities more powers to prosecute individuals for acts against the state and the military. The president’s decision was supported by the law ministry, which deemed the bills unconstitutional.
President Alvi took to his personal social media account to explain his refusal, stating, As God is my witness, I did not sign Official Secrets Amendment Bill 2023 & Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2023 as I disagreed with these laws. He further claimed that he had instructed his staff to return the bills unsigned within the designated timeframe to render them ineffective. However, he recently discovered that his staff had disregarded his will and command.
Senator Raza Rabbani criticized the president’s tweet, stating that the president could have constitutionally returned the bills under Article 75, as he had done with other bills. Rabbani questioned President Alvi’s decision to neither sign the bills nor provide his observations on them. He emphasized that the president, being part of parliament under Article 50, should appear before a Senate committee. Rabbani suggested that a committee should investigate the matter to uncover the truth, and if it is proven that the president made a false statement, appropriate legal action should be taken against him.
Regarding the current status of the bills, Rabbani maintained that it remains unclear whether President Alvi has signed them or not. The lingering confusion arises from the president’s conflicting statements, as he simultaneously claimed not to have signed them while also expressing apologies to those who may be affected by the bills.
Article 75 of the Constitution, according to Rabbani, is explicit in guiding the procedure for returning bills. When asked about possible scenarios where the president could deny posting the statement, Rabbani acknowledged the uncertainties surrounding the situation. However, he reiterated that an inquiry into President Alvi’s actions could be initiated by the Senate, especially considering his term is set to end on September 9.
Rabbani concluded by differentiating between an inquiry into the president’s actions and the issue of his impeachment. While the Senate can conduct an inquiry to ascertain the veracity of President Alvi’s statement, impeachment is a separate matter that requires a different process.
The Senate’s decision to probe into this matter reveals the importance they place on ensuring transparency and accountability within the highest office of the state. As the investigation unfolds, the truth behind the alleged undermining of the president’s command will be sought, potentially shaping the future course of action.
