ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has stressed the need of unity among the political leadership, saying that Pakistan could no longer afford any political conflict, considering the economic situation and the damages caused by the recent floods.
During an interview with Dunya News Tv channel talk show program hosted by Karman Khan, the president said that as constitutional head of the country, his doors were opened to all political parties to reach to an agreement and stressed that there should be ‘some give and take’.
The president suggested that holding of next elections as agreed by all the political stakeholders could be a solution to the current economic issues faced by the country. Any party, or the current coalition parties, if emerged successful could form the next government with the public mandate, he added.
To a query, the president underlined the need for holding of consultations by all the political forces for future course and cautioned that any conflict could damage the country at this critical juncture.
He said that ego and misconception should be shunned for the sake of negotiations. There would be a historic stigma, if the people of Pakistan could not unite in such a challenging situation.
The president said that the current economic situation worsened by the floods was a big issue and for an economic stability, they were required to overcome the political differences.
The president said that discussion should be held by the politicians for developing of a consensus over the issues like holding of elections. The country was confronted with serious issues of price hike, inflation and the devastation left behind by massive floods.
He said the present government was doing its efforts to overcome the issues, but these efforts must continue. “It is not a zero-sum game”, he said, adding that one issue was linked with the other.
The president replying to a question said that he held discussions with the different stakeholders. It was the government and the opposition who would sit together and sort out things.
“It is the requirement of political maturity that all the political parties should sit and discuss the elections and agree on fundamentals of a charter of economy,” he added.
Expressing his optimism, he said that he hoped for a positive outcome as he had trust in the political leadership of the country.
The president further elaborated that when people talked to each other, there was always ‘a way out’.
“People should talk about the real issues,” he said, adding “for the future of Pakistan, people should eschew ego and personal grudges and remove misconceptions.”
To a question, the president said that he was continuing his efforts in this regard.
About Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan’s willingness to negotiate, he said that it was a time to present a united face to the world.
He expressed the hope that prime minister’s reaction would be positive, adding that he had regularly discussed different national issues with the former.
Affirming his point of view, he said certain proposals were on the table and insisted that negotiations should be held.
He said that he had full confidence that they would come out of the current crisis because, all the political leaders had realized that with unity, they could move ahead.
