The Foreign Office of Pakistan has rejected the claims of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Attaullah Tarrar where he accused President Dr Arif Alvi of holding secret meetings with foreign diplomats.
During a weekly press briefing, the Spokesperson of the Foreign Office Mumtaz Zahra Baloch rejected the accusations against Dr Arif Alvi that he is holding meetings with foreign diplomats in a personal capacity and without the Foreign Ministry’s knowledge.
Read more: Message from Dr. Arif Alvi, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
“Whenever any government official meets a foreign diplomat, this ministry is informed and kept in the loop,” the FO spokesperson reportedly said, categorically rejecting SAPM Atta Tarrar’s claim that President Dr Arif Alvi is holding meetings against protocol.
“Whenever any government official meets a foreign diplomat, this ministry is informed and kept in the loop”, says @ForeignOfficePk when asked on Atta Tarrar’s claim that Pres Dr Alvi is holding meetings against protocol. #Pakistan https://t.co/3zQDtt8VUr pic.twitter.com/pFOvDtKxZx
— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) May 18, 2023
According to the details, President Dr Arif Alvi had published an oped titled Hubris and egos or humility and wisdom — what should prevail? where he talked about his personal life and later political experiences. The President also shed light on the current political crisis in Pakistan and urged political leaders to learn from the past.
One sentence which stood out from the essay was, “Our friends who have a clear view from outside are urging us too,” as it talked about other countries’ views on Pakistan’s political situation.
Furthermore, the essay was published at a time when Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Dr. Nasser Al-Dawood is currently in Pakistan. Prior to this, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a telephone conversation with Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir. Earlier this month, China’s newly appointed foreign minister, Qin Gang, also made his first visit to Pakistan.
Read more: India hatching conspiracies against Pakistan: President Dr Arif Alvi
After President Arif Alvi’s oped was published, SAPM Atta Tarrar accused President Alvi of holding individual meetings with foreign diplomats without informing the Foreign Office and also criticized him for it. He further demanded President Arif Alvi’s resignation.
“President Alvi is holding individual meetings with foreign diplomats without informing the Foreign Office. This is a very inappropriate act and it does not bode well for the President that these meetings are held without the Foreign Office. Arif Alvi seems less like a President and more like a PTI worker. Please resign and go home,” SAPM Atta Tarrar said on Twitter.
صدر علوی غیر ملکی سفارتکاروں سے بغیر دفتر خارجہ کو بتائے انفرادی ملاقاتیں کر رہے ہیں۔یہ انتہائی نا مناسب فعل ہے اور صدر کو یہ زیب نہیں دیتا کہ دفتر خارجہ سے بالا بالا یہ ملاقاتیں کی جائیں۔عارف علوی صدر کم اور تحریک انصاف کے کارکن زیادہ لگ رہے ہیں۔ علوی صاحب استعفی دو اور گھر جاو
— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) May 17, 2023
Pertinent to mention that President Alvi belongs to PTI and PML-N leaders have often accused him of being a mouthpiece for PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.