ISLAMABAD: As political parties mainly the Imran Khan founding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest against alleged rigging in the February 8 polls, President Arif Alvi has called for respecting the people’s mandate and enhancing political inclusion.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad on Monday, the president said financial inclusion is not possible without the people’s participation in the political process.
He also appreciated the “millions of young voters” for reposing trust in the country’s democratic system.
“If the youth’s confidence in the system is shaken, it will not be in the country’s interest,” the president warned, lamenting that competent people are being “forced out of politics”.
President Alvi also warned that there could be consequences for excluding the people from the development process.
Expressing concern over the slow decision-making and lack of leadership in the country, the president said that Pakistan needed good leadership and timely decision-making to put it on the path of progress and prosperity
“Development and prosperity require good leadership and timely decision-making,” the president said.
President Avli said that technology could have been utilised to grant the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis through internet voting (i-voting) as well as bring improvements in the electoral process through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
He regretted that i-voting and EVMs could not be introduced due to vested interests.
He also spoke about the suspension of social media site X services in the country, saying the blockage of social media websites in Pakistan was due to the lack of intellectual capacity to handle criticism.
