In the shadow of the impending end of President Arif Alvi’s constitutional term on September 8, significant ripples in the political landscape have been observed. Several unexpected meetings, including a recent encounter between the President and the former information minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, have ignited national speculations.
Durrani, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F) who has remained relatively inactive in the political scene for a while, had previously caught public attention with his proposal for a grand dialogue among stakeholders in 2021. Notably, he had also met the opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif in 2020, during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government period, delivering an “important message”.
Speculations Surrounding the High-Profile Meetings
Despite the recent flurry of meetings at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the official details remain scarce, fostering a fertile ground for speculation. Reportedly, even the staff was barred from entering the location where the discussions took place, deepening the mystery surrounding the meetings. One prevalent speculation hints at a potential announcement regarding the general election date within the next 72 hours. This comes after the president’s failed attempt to convene with the chief election commissioner, who emphasized that the authority to set the election date rests with the commission, as per Article 57 of the Election Act 2017 – a stance echoed by the Ministry of Law.
In this intricate scenario, several theories have surfaced. One angle suggests that the president might utilize Article 58 of the Constitution to announce the election date, making the recent meetings crucial in this context. Concurrently, there is speculation linking these meetings to pending amendments in the Army Act and the Official Secrets Act, matters that the president indicated were yet to receive his signature and ratification. Furthermore, some speculate that these meetings are connected to the culmination of the president’s term, a significant event in the nation’s political trajectory happening today.
Read: Secret Meeting at the President’s House: Unravelling the Web of Speculation
