The controversy surrounding the approval of controversial bills reached new heights on Tuesday after a purported conversation surfaced, in which President Arif Alvi admitted to facing pressure from his party, sources revealed.
The conversation, said to be between President Alvi and Secretary Waqar Ahmed, took place prior to the president’s tweet in which he had yet to sign the Official Secrets Act and Army Act amendments.
Alvi’s tweet had unleashed a wave of shock within the corridors of power after he accused his own staff of insubordination and undermining his authority, resulting in the removal of Secretary Waqar Ahmed from his post.
However, sources on Tuesday said that in a conversation President Alvi privately confessed to his secretary that he was well aware that the latter had no involvement in the bill approval process, but he was facing immense pressure from his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
According to insiders, the files sent by the secretary to the president still need to be returned. On Sunday, at 1:45 pm, President Arif Alvi tweeted expressing reservations about approving the bills.Later, President House’s ‘internal wing’ went ahead with the process and sent both bills to the Prime Minister Office at 5:00 pm.
The president had sent the bills in a sealed envelope from his chamber to the PM Office.
