ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s outgoing President, Dr. Arif Alvi, leaves behind a legacy of political polarization, controversial ordinances and unflinching loyalty to his party leader, the jailed ex-premier Imran Khan, as termed by political parties and analysts on Friday, who called his over five-year tenure partial and contentious.
Dr. Alvi, who was sworn in as the 13th head of the Pakistani state on September 9, 2018, saw his five-year term end last year. However, he remained in office until Friday due to the absence of national and provincial legislatures, which, along with the Senate, constitute the electoral college for the presidency.
The presidential election is now set for today, Saturday, with the ruling alliance nominating the former president and co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari against Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai. The latter is backed by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) alliance for the coveted position.
A dentist by profession, Alvi entered politics in 1979 to participate in the elections on the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) ticket from Karachi, but the contest was called off following a military coup by former army chief General Zia-ul-Haq. He later resigned from JI and became one of the founding members of PTI in 1996, eventually serving as its Sindh president.
Despite unsuccessful bids for a provincial seat in Karachi in the 1997 and 2002 elections, and PTI’s boycott of the 2008 national elections under another military ruler, General (r) Pervez Musharraf, Alvi’s political journey ascended. He secured a National Assembly seat from Karachi in 2013 on a PTI ticket and became an active parliament member. In 2018, he won against Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) heavyweight Dr. Farooq Sattar for a national seat as PTI gained a majority, enabling it to form a government at the center and in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
As one of Khan’s closest confidants, Alvi was nominated for the presidency due to his reputation as a hardworking legislator and a loyal party member, although the President’s role in Pakistan is largely ceremonial. While his party lauds him as “one of the best” presidents, his detractors criticize his tenure for allegedly disregarding the constitution.
“I believe he was one of the best presidents we have had in recent times, full of intellect and wisdom,” Zulfi Bukhari, a PTI member and Khan’s close friend, told Arab News. “I wish he had more in his power to help the cause of Imran Khan, democracy and rule of law in Pakistan.”
Conversely, Khurram Dastgir, a senior member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former federal minister, described Alvi’s presidency as “diminished, marred by contempt for the constitution and blatant partisanship.”
“He emasculated Pakistan’s democracy with recurring unconstitutional actions, favoring his party over his symbolic role as the federation’s unifier,” Dastgir commented, criticizing Alvi’s tenure as marred by incompetence and bad faith.
Opponents accuse the President of undertaking “illegal and unconstitutional steps” to serve his party and leader. Alvi dissolved the National Assembly in April 2022 on Khan’s advice, amid a looming no-confidence motion. The Supreme Court later reversed this decision, reinstating the assembly. However, Alvi refrained from administering the oath of office to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, opting for sick leave instead.
Following the recent general elections on February 8, Alvi delayed convening the National Assembly session for the swearing-in of newly elected legislators, attributing his decision to unresolved issues regarding the allocation of reserved seats to the PTI-SIC alliance.
“The President violated his oath and the constitution by taking these illegal and unconstitutional steps to please his party and the leader,” PPP secretary-information Faisal Karim Kundi told Arab News.
“President Alvi is leaving behind a legacy of political polarization as he failed to build consensus among political parties as the head of the state on major issues like the elections,” he continued, adding Alvi neither served his party nor the country well.
Dr. Farooq Adil, a former adviser to the President, noted that Alvi, utilized by his party to issue numerous ordinances, faced criticism for transforming the presidency into an ‘ordinance factory,’ bypassing parliament. Alvi promulgated over 70 ordinances during the PTI’s tenure from August 2018 to April 2022, detracting from the presidency’s stature.
“The president failed to act like a true representative of the state,” he told Arab News. “Instead, he preferred Imran Khan’s loyalty over the national interests in many crucial matters.”
Adil said Alvi would be remembered as a loyal worker of Khan “who reduced the stature of the presidency through his partisan acts.”
Another controversy arose last August when Alvi denied signing two crucial bills, accusing his staff of overriding his authority.
“As God is my witness, I did not sign Official Secrets Amendment Bill, 2023 and Pakistan Army Amendment Bill, 2023 as I disagreed with these laws,” Alvi said in an X post after the government notified both of the bills had become laws.
The bills, which give the authorities more power to prosecute people for acts against the state and its military, were approved by both houses of parliament and sent to the president for his approval.
Alvi’s leader and ex-premier Khan was later charged and handed down 10-year in prison under an earlier version of the Official Secrets Act on charges of leaking state secrets to the public. Dozens of PTI workers and leaders are were also charged under the Army Act for their involvement in violence last year in May when people attacked military installations in different cities following Khan’s arrest in a graft case.
“He was a controversial president not only for the opposition, but also for his party as he preferred to clinging to power instead of resigning from his position when his colleagues and party workers were put behind bars,” Munizae Jahangir, political analyst and TV talk-show host, told Arab News.
However, she lauded his role for speaking up for women’s rights, especially their land rights.
“He won’t be remembered as independent and impartial president,” she added. “He even failed to make an effective gesture through his resignation during the state crackdown on his party.”
Former Pakistan President Arif Alvi leaves legacy of controversy and polarization
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Former Pakistan President Arif Alvi leaves legacy of controversy and polarization
- President Alvi retires after serving over five years in office, with his leader and ex-PM Imran Khan in jail with PTI supporters
- Alvi’s critics say he ‘emasculated’ Pakistan’s democracy with unconstitutional steps, prioritized party loyalty over his duties
Pakistan says Roosevelt Hotel’s base valuation complete, will decide on transaction structure this month
- Hotel could fetch 4–5 times more under joint venture than in outright sale, privatization chief says
- Government hopes to finalize deal structure this June, has hired US consulting firm Jones Lang LaSalle
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has completed the baseline valuation of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York and is preparing to move forward with a transaction structure this month to privatize the state-owned property, the head of the Privatization Commission told Arab News this week.
The Roosevelt, a 1,015-room historic hotel in Midtown Manhattan, has long been one of Pakistan’s most prominent but politically sensitive overseas assets. Acquired by Pakistan International Airlines Investment Limited (PIAIL) in 1979, the hotel occupies a full city block on Madison Avenue and 45th Street. Over the past two decades, successive Pakistani governments have floated plans to sell, lease, or redevelop the property, but no proposal has advanced beyond early-stage planning.
Operations at the Roosevelt were suspended in 2020 following steep financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, Pakistan entered a short-term lease with the City of New York to use the property as a temporary shelter for asylum seekers, generating more than $220 million in projected rental income. That agreement ended in 2024 and no new revenue stream has since been announced.
“We have an idea of the asset valuation in Roosevelt,” Muhammad Ali, chairman of Pakistan’s Privatization Commission, said in an interview when asked about the timeline to privatize the hotel.
“We have appointed JLL [Jones Lang LaSalle], who are one of the top consultants in the US market. They have done their homework. They have done the market sounding also. We just need to get approval from the Cabinet Committee [on Privatization] on the structure, and we’ll move ahead.”
He added:
“So this year, before June, I’m hoping that on the Roosevelt, we will have gone ahead with execution of the transaction as far as whatever structure is decided.”
VALUATION AND TRANSACTION STRUCTURE
The Roosevelt, whose liabilities and losses the privatization chief did not disclose, is one of several state assets the government hopes will contribute to its target of raising Rs86 billion ($306 million) in privatization proceeds during the fiscal year starting July 1, alongside the sale of national carrier Pakistan International Airlines and three electricity distribution companies.
But how much money the hotel ultimately brings in, and its overall valuation, depended on the type of transaction structure adopted, Ali said.
If the government opted for a straightforward “as-is” sale and sold the property without securing any new permissions or approvals for zoning or development, the hotel would fetch the lowest price.
However, if the government first obtained the necessary permits and approvals that a buyer would typically need for redevelopment, the property’s value could double compared to the “as-is” sale.
Alternatively, if the government formed a joint venture with a private investor, sharing both the risks and future profits, the hotel could be worth four to five times more than its as-is valuation.
“So, depending on what sort of structure you have, how much risk you take, how much effort the government puts in, we can make a lot of money from this asset,” the privatization chief said.
“If we go with a joint venture structure, then this year we will only get the first advance payment, so that’s a small amount of money which will be coming in [FY26].”
India rejects signing Shanghai Cooperation Organization statement seen as pro-Pakistan
- Indian Defense says statement diluted India’s position on critical issues such as terrorism, regional security
- Singh, without explicitly naming Pakistan, urged the SCO to criticize countries that use “cross-border terrorism“
NEW DELHI, India: Beijing’s bid for enhanced regional leadership suffered a setback Thursday when India rejected signing a joint statement put before members of the China-backed Shanghai Cooperation Organization, saying it was pro-Pakistan in not mentioning April’s terror attack on Indian tourists.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said the statement diluted India’s position on critical issues such as terrorism and regional security, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media.
India blames Pakistan for backing the gunmen behind the April 22 killing of 26 people, most of them Indian Hindu tourists, in India-controlled Kashmir, and has described it as a terror attack. Islamabad denies the charge.
Singh alleged that the joint statement “suited Pakistan’s narrative” because it did not include that attack but mentioned militant activities in Balochistan, the person said. Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of backing Balochistan freedom movement, allegations that India denies.
The signing ceremony came during a meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional grouping formed by China and Russia to counter US influence in Asia.
China has largely taken over running the SCO, staging joint drills and holding summits, while Russia is embroiled in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and international isolation.
While little known globally, the SCO has become one of China’s main instruments to expand its political and economic reach into areas traditionally neutral, such as India, or closely linked to Russia such as Central Asia.
Thursday’s meeting took place in the east China city of Qingdao, home to China’s northern fleet.
Singh, without explicitly naming Pakistan, urged the SCO to criticize countries that use “cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists.” He said members should unite in eliminating terrorism and ensure accountability for those who aid such activities.
“Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. Dealing with these challenges requires decisive action,” said Singh, according to a defense ministry statement.
The April 22 killings embroiled the two nuclear-armed nations in the most serious military confrontation in decades. After days of exchanging fire, they agreed to end all military actions under a US-brokered ceasefire.
On Wednesday, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held one-on-one meetings with his counterparts from Belarus, Iran, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are also members.
“Unilateralism and protectionism are surging, while hegemonic, high-handed, and bullying acts severely undermine the international order, making these practices the biggest sources of chaos and harm,” Dong said according to the official Xinhua News Agency, in a swipe at the US and its allies.
China and India have decades-old border disputes and Beijing has become one of Pakistan’s closest allies.
Four dead, 19 injured as monsoon rains trigger building collapses, drownings in Punjab
- The provincial disaster agency has urged citizens to take precautionary measures as rains continue
- Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also warned of torrential rains, hailstorms in several districts
ISLAMABAD: At least four people were killed and 19 injured in rain-related incidents across Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province over the past 24 hours, the provincial disaster management authority said on Thursday, as monsoon downpours triggered building collapses and drownings in several districts.
The statement came as authorities in both Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa warned of continued rainfall through July 1, with Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issuing a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) alert for the country’s northern regions a day earlier.
“Two people died when weak, dilapidated structures collapsed in Okara and Bahawalnagar,” the Punjab PDMA said in a statement. “Two others drowned in separate incidents in Jhelum.”
Thirteen houses were also damaged in the province, mostly in rural or structurally vulnerable areas, the statement added.
Punjab’s disaster agency urged citizens to take precautionary measures and said financial compensation for the victims’ families would be provided under government policy.
Separately, the PDMA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa warned of torrential rains and hailstorms in several districts from Thursday evening through July 1, with a risk of glacier bursts in the north.
It issued alerts to local administrations in Chitral, Swat, Upper and Lower Dir and Kohistan to initiate preemptive measures and inform nearby communities.
Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with a history of extreme weather events linked to erratic monsoon patterns, glacial melt and heatwaves.
In 2022, record floods killed over 1,700 people and caused more than $30 billion in damages.
On Wednesday, the NDMA said continued high temperatures and intense monsoon activity were putting stress on glacial lakes in Pakistan’s mountainous north, raising the risk of flash floods.
Valleys in Chitral and Ghizer are among the most vulnerable, with warnings issued to avoid travel near glaciers and riverbanks.
Iran expressed rare gratitude to Pakistan amid recent Israel war — PM Sharif
- Shehbaz Sharif acknowledges Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ‘significant role’ in defusing tensions
- He also highlights Field Marshal Asim Munir’s lengthy meetings with the top American and Iranian officials
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed satisfaction over the ceasefire that brought an end to the recent Israel-Iran conflict, saying Tehran had thanked Pakistan’s political and military leadership for playing a constructive role during the war after Field Marshal Asim Munir’s meetings with both American and Iranian officials.
The 12-day war began after Israel carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, killing several senior military commanders and scientists, while officials in Tehran were engaged in nuclear negotiations with the United States.
Shortly before the ceasefire was announced, US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites and claimed to have set back Iran’s nuclear program by years.
“For the first time in history — and I am not just talking about the war itself, but on several fronts — Iran openly thanked Pakistan’s political and military leadership in a way that, in my view, has no precedent in recent times,” Sharif told the federal cabinet.
“Our Field Marshal had a luncheon meeting in Washington with President [Donald] Trump,” he continued. “Then in Istanbul, the army chief had a one-and-a-half-hour meeting with [Iranian Foreign Minister] Abbas Araghchi.
During that meeting, he specified Pakistan’s efforts. In response, he [Araghchi] said … ‘We [Iranians] were not the ones who attacked… If Israel stops, then we are ready for dialogue.’”
The prime minister said Pakistan also condemned the missile attacks on US bases in Qatar and had conveyed its position clearly to all sides.
He described Iran’s posture during the war as one of “dignity and restraint,” praising the Iranian people for refusing to capitulate under pressure.
Sharif said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also played a significant role in defusing tensions.
“I had a phone conversation with the Crown Prince,” he said. “We spoke in great detail. And I say this to you with full sincerity: he played a significant role in helping to stop this war.”
“As soon as Israel launched its attack, Saudi Arabia issued a strong statement of condemnation,” he added. “After that, the Crown Prince personally spoke to the President of Iran [Masoud Pezeshkian].”
As the ceasefire continues to hold between the two Middle Eastern rivals, President Trump has said American and Iranian officials could engage in talks next week, though Tehran has not confirmed any such plans.
Trump, speaking at a NATO summit, said he was not keen to resume formal negotiations but declared the war was over and insisted Iran would not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.
Iran’s parliament, meanwhile, voted to fast-track legislation suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, following US strikes on its nuclear facilities.
With input from AP
Pakistan decries use of torture in Palestine, Kashmir on UN anti-torture day
- Rights groups have long reported widespread abuse in both areas, including arbitrary detentions
- Pakistan calls for strong oversight mechanisms to prevent torture and promote accountability
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday expressed grave concern over the use of torture as a tool of repression in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Indian-administered Kashmir, accusing the “occupying powers” of systematically inflicting abuse to suppress demands for self-determination.
The statement came on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, marked each year on June 26 to promote the eradication of torture and support survivors. The UN General Assembly designated the day in 1997, coinciding with the anniversary of the 1987 entry into force of the UN Convention Against Torture.
Human rights groups have long reported widespread abuse in both Palestine and Kashmir, including arbitrary detentions, custodial beatings and torture, particularly of young men and boys.
“The people of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continue to be subjected to the worst forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the occupying powers to suppress their right to self-determination,” the foreign office said in a statement.
Reaffirming its commitment to human dignity and justice, Pakistan said it was strengthening legal reforms, institutional safeguards and oversight mechanisms to prevent torture and promote accountability.
It also underscored its provision of medical, legal, and psycho-social support to victims.
Citing the values of justice and compassion in religious teachings, the foreign ministry said any act of torture was incompatible with Islam and international law.
Pakistan called on the international community to condemn what it described as systematic crimes by occupying forces and to take steps to hold them accountable.
