New Delhi, Nov 30, : , Pakistan President Arif Alvi stated Tuesday that the choice for the signing of a memorandum (MoU), between Alvi Dental (Alvi Dental) and an American company was a “poor judgment”, Dawn reported. The Pakistan President, who is a dentist by trade, took to Twitter to say that hosting an event at the Sindh Governor’s house for the signing of an accord between his son Awab and Bringing Smiles USA was “a matter of poor judgment”.
The statement was made after politicians and citizens raised questions about whether there was a conflict of interests in the President attending an event hosted at Governor’s House.
The event was held Monday and saw the signing of an agreement to provide affordable dental care for the citizens of the country.
Awab Alvi, of Alvi Dental Hospital, and Anas Athar, of Bringing Smiles USA signed the MoU.President Alvi and First Lady Samina Arif Alvi witnessed the signing.
Initialy, the President had congratulated the son on the venture.He tweeted, “Wishing you success in this cooperation with your friends who are also bringing foreign investment,” in response to the tweet from his son.
According to the report, Awab shared a photo of the ceremony that showed the President standing in background.
After the signing of the MoU, social media in Pakistan is buzzing with excitement.
Geo News reported that questions are being raised about Pakistan’s President using his official position for his family business.Others claim that it was a family obligation.
Alvi Dental is a private business that Dr.Arif Alvi runs.It was founded by his son and was run by him until he was elected President in 2018.
The practice’s website still lists the President as a dentist, and a member of “Our Team”, with an option to schedule an appointment.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, PML-N’s spokesperson, raised many questions about the event.”Why is this signing taking place at Governor’s House? Why is the President promoting his family’s company? Is this not a violation of his oaths? Conflict of interest,” she inquired, Dawn reported.
Asad Ali Toor, an activist, wondered if the President was using his official position for his family’s benefit.
The Pak Daily founder Hamza Azhar Salam, who was all for supporting them, asked Alvi if he would attend the ceremony.
“We started from scratch, and have grown to be the fastest growing news organization in Pakistan.He asked if you are available for all the sons of Pakistan or just one.
Hira Jaleel is a Lahore-based lawyer who stated that “Since it is the President’s child and not the President himself who enters into an MoU it cannot strictly be called conflict of interest.” However, poor judgment and even illegality are evident in the fact that the President chose not to publicly announce the event via Twitter and that it took place at Governor House.According to Geo News, the President would have been better off separating himself from this transaction.
Geo News reports that a senior Karachi lawyer, who requested anonymity, stated that this is a grave violation of the basic principles of conflict-of-interest.
The illegal use of Governor House and the presence the President are also violations of the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance (1999), Section 9 (a), (iv).
It is also a violation the President’s Oath which states: “I will never allow my personal interests to influence my official behavior or my official decisions.”
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