The President’s Secretariat has removed the Secretary to President Waqar Ahmed, a day after the ‘bombshell’ social media post from the personal account of Arif Alvi where he revealed that his staff undermined his will and command about two bills amending the Pakistan Army Act and Officials Secrets Act.
“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,” said a social media post from the official Twitter handle of the President of Pakistan @PresOfPakistan on Monday.
Alvi’s private Twitter handle remains silent about the development.
The development comes a day after Alvi made a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter, where he questioned the presidential assent to the Official Secrets Amendment Bill 2023 & Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2023.
The President’s Secretariate also sought the appointment of Humaira Ahmed, a BPS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, as Secretary to the President.
Many political experts described it as a “bombshell” from the President’s House and wondered whether Alvi would sack his staff for the alleged “forged signature”.
Alvi hinted that his staff apparently overruled him as he disagreed with the laws. “I asked my staff to return the bills unsigned within the stipulated time to make them ineffective,” he wrote about the laws.
On August 19, the media reported that Alvi signed laws only three days after he refused to sign over a dozen bills.
He lamented that his staff “undermined his will and command”. He sought forgiveness from those who would be affected by the laws.
But Caretaker information minister Murtaza Solangi claimed that there was no ambiguity over President Alvi’s statement and the situation was “absolutely clear”.
“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,” said the post from The President of Pakistan.
A few hours after the president’s annoucement, a letter written by the officer in response to the president emerged asking for the orders to be withdrawn.
“… I am neither responsible for the delay nor undermined office of the Honourable President. I can give my statement on oath,” Waqar Ahmed wrote. He added that surrendering his services conveyed a message that he was responsible for any irregularity in connection with the bill.
The letter has been labelled ‘confidential’ and is marked for the president only.
Ahmed has also asked the president to get an inquiry done by FIA or any other agency and has also offered to present evidence if called by the Supreme Court.
Explaining his justification in detail, Ahmed wrote the Army Act bill was received by the President house on August 2, with a note saying the president must act on it in 10 days which would expire on August 11.
The Official Secrets Act was received on August 8 with action required by August 17, he wrote.
The letter adds that the said files are still lying in the President’s office but the president neither assented nor issued written decision for returning the bill.
