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Services of Waqar Ahmed are “no more required”, says President Alvi.
Ahmed’s services have been surrendered to Establishment Division.
President accuses his staff of “undermining his will and command”.
A day after President Arif Alvi’s startling revelation about the signing of the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the President’s Secretariat on Monday said that the services of Waqar Ahmed — secretary to the president — are no more required and are surrendered to the Establishment Division with immediate effect.
“In view of the definite statement of yesterday, President’s Secretariat has written a letter to Principal Secretary to Prime Minister that the services of Mr. Waqar Ahmed, Secretary to President, are no more required and are surrendered to the Establishment Division, immediately,” read a statement posted on the President of Pakistan’s official account on X, previously known as Twitter.
A day earlier, the president revealed that he had not signed the two bills, triggering a massive controversy in the country.
“As God is my witness, I did not sign Official Secrets Amendment Bill 2023 & Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2023 as I disagreed with these laws,” President Alvi had said on X.
“I asked my staff to return the bills unsigned within stipulated time to make them ineffective. I confirmed from them many times that whether they have been returned & was assured that they were.”
“However I have found out today that my staff undermined my will and command. As Allah knows all, He will forgive IA. But I ask forgiveness from those who will be effected,” he had added.
In the letter to PM’s principal secretary, it is requested to replace Waqar Ahmed with Humaira Ahmed — a BPS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service — as secretary to the president.
“It has also been desired that Ms Humaira Ahmed, a BPS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, may be posted as Secretary to the President,” the statement added.
According to reports, Army Act Amendment and Secrets bills were sent to the president for his ascent on August 2 and 8, respectively and the lower house of parliament was dissolved on 9th of the same month, three days ahead of the expiration of the deadline for the president to decide on the bill.
On Saturday, it was reported that the president had signed the bills approved by the National Assembly and the Senate, after which both bills became law. However, on Sunday, the president denied signing the bills.
It is pertinent to mention here that soon after the bills became law, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was booked in the cipher case. The party’s senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi was arrested from his residence in the same case.
PPP, PML-N call for Alvi’s resignation
Following the president’s surprising revelations, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) demanded his resignation. PPP spokesperson Faisal Karim Kundi termed the incident “unfortunate” and lamented that the president issued an apology “24 hours after it was reported on the media that he did”.
“I believe that such a person is not fit to remain in the presidency. This person does not know what’s happening. He does not even know who has bypassed him,” the PPP leader added.
In a post on X, PML-N leader and former finance minister Ishaq Dar termed Alvi’s statement “unbelievable”, calling for his resignation. “Minimum morality warrants Alvi sb to resign, having failed to run his office effectively, efficiently and as per Rules of Business,” he added.
The signing controversy led to a debate on Article 75(1) which suggests that there are two ways in case the president doesn’t assent to the bill.
What is Article 75(1)
It should be noted that the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2023, bill was sent to the president on August 1 for approval whereas it was received the following day on August 2.
Subsequently, the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was sent to the president on August 8 and received on the same day for approval.
According to Article 75(1) of the Constitution, the president shall give his assent to the approved bill of parliament within 10 days of its receipt.
“In the case of a Bill other than a Money Bill, return the Bill to the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) with a message requesting that the Bill or any specified provision thereof, be reconsidered and that any amendment specified in the message be considered,” read Article 75(1)(b) of the Constitution.
The president objected to the said bills after a constitutional period of 10 days.
Under Article 75, the bill must be approved by the joint session after being sent back by the president. After approval by the joint session, the bill is again sent to the president for approval.
“When the President has returned a Bill to the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), it shall be reconsidered by the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) in joint sitting and, if it is again passed, with or without amendment, by the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), by the votes of the majority of the members of both Houses present and voting, it shall be deemed for the purposes of the Constitution to have been passed by both Houses and shall be presented to the President, and the President shall give his assent within ten days, failing which such assent shall be deemed to have been given,” it states.
Furthermore, if the president does not approve the bill within 10 days it then turns into a law.