Islamabad (Web Desk): President Dr Arif Alvi, in a letter to Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Wednesday, conveyed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf' (PTI) concerns regarding the erosion of fundamental rights and the need for a level-playing field for all political parties in the run-up to the general elections scheduled for February 8, 2024.
The development comes as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is all set to hold "free, fair and transparent" general elections in the country on February 8.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Office, during the communication, President Alvi also forwarded a letter addressed to him by the PTI General Secretary Omar Ayub Khan, which detailed the party's apprehensions and grievances.
In his letter, the president said that it was of the “utmost importance” that the caretaker government made efforts as a “neutral entity to provide a level playing field for all political parties.”
President Alvi emphasised the paramount importance of the caretaker government, under the prime minister's leadership, to act as a neutral entity that ensures a fair and level-playing field for all registered political parties.
He cited the prime minister's recent statements in which he affirmed the caretaker government's commitment to providing equal rights and opportunities to all political parties for the upcoming elections.
The president further highlighted that democracy was the “only viable way forward for the state and people of Pakistan”, adding that its essence lay in giving people the right to partake in political activities and to be able to voice their opinions through free media.
President Alvi said that he was constitutionally “duty-bound, along with the prime minister and all institutions, to protect the rights of the citizens”.
He said that in his missive, the PTI secretary general had conveyed the party’s concerns and allegations regarding the “erosion of fundamental rights, with particular reference to enforced disappearances, forced conversions of political loyalties, absence of level playing field for major political parties, crackdown on media and mistreatment of female political activists through prolonged illegal detentions”.
President Alvi said that the above instances became a “matter of concern when such actions resulted in the conversion of political associations and/or loyalties”, adding that the issue became sensitive when female political workers were also subjected to prolonged detentions or frequent rearrests after court relief.
The president highlighted Article 4 (right of individuals to be dealt with in accordance with law), 17 (freedom of association) and 19 (freedom of speech) of the Constitution.
Concluding the letter, President Alvi urged PM Kakar, as being the head of the government, to “kindly look into these issues”.