KARACHI: President Dr Arif Alvi has drawn immense criticism on Pakistani Twitter for taking part in the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between his son’s company and a dental chain in the US inside Karachi’s Governor House.
President Alvi’s son, Awab Alvi, tweeted an image of himself signing a contract with President Alvi seen smiling while standing behind him.
‘Excited to share that we signed an MoU between Alvi Dental and Bringing Smiles USA to open a chain of dental practices and bring affordable dental care to Pakistan with no compromise in quality of treatment or sterilization but focus on the best treatment possible with affordable rates,’ he wrote on Twitter.
Excited to share that we signed an MoU between @AlviDental & Bringing Smiles USA to open a chain of dental practices bring affordable dental care to Pakistan with no compromise in quality of treatment or sterilization but focus on the best treatment possible at affordable rates pic.twitter.com/Zj02sW1uVp
— Awab Alvi (@DrAwab) November 29, 2021
President Alvi also tweeted a congratulatory message to Awab for his business deal. ‘Congratulations Dr Awab. Wish you success in this collaboration with your friends who are also bringing in foreign investment,’ the president wrote.
Congratulations @DrAwab Wish you success in this collaboration with your friends who are also bringing in foreign investment. https://t.co/yv4sgo2MYs
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) November 29, 2021
The tweet was met with an array of explosive responses, scrutinising the president for his participation in the signing and the poor choice of location. Many including former finance minister Ishaq Dar asserted that Alvi’s participation was a violation of his presidential oath.
“On a serious note, it is a serious digression on part of Mr Alvi; Article 42 of the Constitution which deals with the oath of the President has the following provision: ‘That I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions,” Dar wrote.
On a serious note, it is a significant digression on part of Mr Arif Alvi; Article42 of the Constitution which deals with oath of the President has also following provision:
“That I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions” pic.twitter.com/0yifsWG79e
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) November 30, 2021
PML-N’s Ayesha Raza Farooq raised several questions about the event. “Why is this signing off taking place at the Governor’s house? Why is the president of Pakistan promoting his family’s business? Isn’t this a violation of his oath? Conflict of interest?” she asked.
Why is this signing off taking place at the Governor’s house?
Why is the President of Pakistan promoting his family’s business?
Isn’t this a violation of his oath? Conflict of interest?
@ImranKhanPTI ? @ArifAlvi ? https://t.co/3R4NRK5FwS
— Ayesha Raza Farooq (@AyeshaRaza13) November 30, 2021
In a move to try and dampen public outrage, President Alvi used his Twitter handle to apologise. “For the signing ceremony of an MoU between Dr Awab and his friend in my presence, the venue selection was a matter of poor judgement,” he wrote on Twitter.
For the signing ceremony of an MOU between @DrAwab and his friend in my presence, the venue selection was a matter of poor judgment.
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) November 30, 2021
