President says using Governor House for private venture ‘poor judgment’
President Dr Arif Alvi has said that using the Sindh Governor House for signing an MOU between Alvi Dental and an American company was “poor judgment”.
“For the signing ceremony of an MOU between Dr Awab [his son] and his friend in my presence, the venue selection was a matter of poor judgment,” he tweeted Tuesday.
For the signing ceremony of an MOU between @DrAwab and his friend in my presence, the venue selection was a matter of poor judgment.
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) November 30, 2021
At the ceremony, which was held on Monday, an agreement was signed by Alvi Dental Hospital and Bringing Smiles USA to provide affordable dental care to the people of Pakistan. Pictures from the venue show the president standing in the background.
Dr Arif Alvi congratulated his son on Twitter after the event. When pictures from the event started circulating on social media, several politicians criticised using the Governor House as a venue for a private event.
Some called it a “conflict of interest”.
PML-N’s Ayesha Raza Farooq raised a number of questions. “Why is this signing off taking place at the Governor’s house? Why is the President of Pakistan promoting his family’s business? Isn’t this a violation of his oath? Conflict of interest?”
Former finance minister Ishaq Dar called the move a “significant disgression” on part of the president. “Article 42 of the Constitution which deals with the oath of the President has also the following provision: “That I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions,” he tweeted.
On a serious note, it is a significant digression on part of Mr Arif Alvi; Article42 of the Constitution which deals with oath of the President has also following provision:
“That I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions” pic.twitter.com/0yifsWG79e
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) November 30, 2021
Dar added that the president must resign.
President Alvi promoting his son’s bussiness….at the expense of public office? pic.twitter.com/D2YXH5cScG
— Sabir Nazar (@sabirnazar1) November 30, 2021
Abuse of power? Under which law, how and why did the PRESIDENT of Pakistan, Arif Alvi, use Governor House Karachi for the signing ceremony of his “personal” dental business?
Pti must give an explanation, this is NOT a joke! pic.twitter.com/Nl6CHZc3y5— Saad Kaiser (@TheSaadKaiser) November 30, 2021
Later in the day, Dr Awab Alvi, the president’s son, came to his rescue. “The President resigned from Alvi Dental when he became President. This venture is between me & my Pakistani US diaspora dentist-alumnus friend.”
.. The venue originally selected was Alvi Dental but to avoid inconvenience because of security to APS school right next to us, it was changed. In retrospect we could have avoided it But any catering that was done was paid by me personally
— Awab Alvi (@DrAwab) November 30, 2021
He revealed that the venue, originally, was Alvi Dental but it was changed because of security reasons. Any catering at the venue was paid for by him personally, Dr Awab added.