Amid protests led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over alleged electoral fraud in the February 8 elections, President Arif Alvi emphasized respecting the electoral mandate and fostering political engagement.
In a Business Net (BIZNet) Awards 2024 in Islamabad, the President highlighted the critical role of public participation in achieving financial and political inclusion. He commended the young electorate for their faith in democracy, cautioning against actions that might erode this trust and deter skilled individuals from political involvement.
Alvi warned of the repercussions of excluding citizens from the developmental agenda. He voiced concerns over the nation’s sluggish leadership response and decision-making, underscoring the necessity for effective leadership to guide Pakistan toward progress.
The President advocated for leveraging technology to enable overseas Pakistanis to vote via internet voting (i-voting) and to enhance the electoral process with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). However, he regretted not implementing these technologies, attributing it to opposing interests.
Additionally, Alvi touched upon the suspension of the social media platform X in Pakistan, attributing the ban to a lack of intellectual capacity to manage criticism.
In a recent interaction, PTI representatives briefed President Alvi on perceived irregularities in the February 8 elections. Although the President did not directly address these allegations, he suggested employing EVMs could have averted the current political strife.
Protests by PTI and other parties have occurred nationwide, contesting the alleged electoral misconduct. PTI-supported independents secured 92 seats in the elections, leading ahead of PML-N and PPP amidst rigging claims and delayed results, casting doubts on the election’s integrity.
