President Arif Alvi on Thursday said that there are several 'ifs and buts' why efforts at rapprochement between the military and former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan could not succeed, as he reposed his trust in the prime minister, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the judiciary to see that elections are held on February 8, 2024.
In an interview with Voice of America, published on Thursday, President Alvi was asked if he wanted to improve the [fractured] relations between the military establishment and Imran Khan, but did he fail?
"There are a lot of ifs and buts in this," he said, adding that it would take a long time to unravel all that happened, what were the situations and feelings and where there were misunderstandings. He suggested that too many people were involved that prevented it from going through.
"As many interpretations as the people involved; as many phobias as people involved," he said, adding that once there is clarity and truth on the table, it becomes easier for people to collaborate.
He gave an example from the ongoing conflict in Gaza, noting that the victims are humans and the perpetrators are humans. He added that today, those committing atrocities are those who have faced atrocities throughout history. When that human reacts to phobias, it reacts exactly how it had suffered.
Asked about a level playing field, he said that the greatest responsibility lies on two departments, the Election Commission of Pakistan and the caretaker prime minister.
Regarding the prime minister, Alvi noted that he has publicly stated that all parties have a level playing field, adding that he and the nation would like to trust the prime minister's statement.
Asked that, once again, a 'King's party' was being propped up, Alvi said that if he said something, it would make his office controversial by discussing it.
The media is quite free; you can make an opinion on it. I would not express any opinion on it since it would make my office controversial if I took any position on it.
Asked how he would ensure fair and transparent elections, Alvi clarified that his office does not enjoy any executive authority and, hence, there should not be any expectation of action from the President.
He added that his office is Constitutionally a symbolic post that can express its moral position and that he has expressed his moral position.
When pushed that the Supreme Court had noted how he failed in his duty, Alvi clarified that he works on the advice he is given and he took the advice from state institutions -- law ministry -- the Supreme Court passed remarks but did not probe this because if they had decided to probe this, it would have delayed the process of getting a date.
"This was the entire process, right?" he said, adding that the Supreme Court passes remarks to get a reaction and advice, but I was not present there, nor was my lawyer there to provide a response, so the Supreme Court asked for a date and got it.
"I agree with the Supreme Court; they acted practically and unanimously. Hence, I appreciate the Supreme Court because we need unanimity in the country," he asserted.
On the possibility of PTI being outlawed or otherwise disqualified from elections, posing a question on the transparency of elections, Alvi said that the courts are playing their role.
"I want to deliberately trust our institutions because the President has no other choice besides carrying this trust and prompting issues like this and occasionally talking to you," he said.
On whether Imran Khan will be convicted, Alvi said he would not conjecture into it at this point, and it was up to the courts to decide. And I hope there is justice.
"Pakistan was created on the basis of justice and will remain on the basis of justice. If we move away from justice, then the threats will increase," he said.
He added that the human system operates on justice, unity and compassion.
Asked that if he was not the President, Alvi said he would be in jail, he had been a street political activist for a long time, and if he was frustrated on the streets, he would be in jail.
On the trial of civilians in military courts, Arif Alvi said that this question was up to the courts.
"I condemned May 9 attacks. I was shot during Ayub Khan's reign because I was trying to convince people against causing damage to public property," he said, adding, "I am a believer of the idea that governments should not allow such circumstances that people are forced to protest on the streets like that and if there are protests, national assets should not be harmed, and the bullet I was struck with was evidence of my stance."
World silent witness to Gaza atrocities
Asked whether he was satisfied with the stance Pakistan has adopted on Gaza internationally, Alvi said he completely agreed.
"I am ashamed at humanity across the world who are standing by silently witnessing the atrocities unfold and are not ready for a ceasefire and have consistently pushed the two-state solution for years," he said.
He noted that the Oslo Accords took place in the 1990s. It was followed by the Camp David [in 2000] talks in which the Israeli prime minister kept repeating they would not allow a two-state solution.
"When Pakistan Resolution was passed in 1940, at the same time, a condemnation resolution was passed in favour of Palestine," he said, adding that these were the two resolutions passed that day.
"Pakistan's stance has been that the solution that is unanimously acceptable for the Palestinians is the solution that Pakistan will back, and currently Pakistan backs the two-state solution because Palestinians support it."
On whether the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) - the global body of Muslim countries, has been able to adequately advocate the view of Muslim states, Alvi said that countries came into the recent emergency summit with varied opinions, but all of them said that there should be an immediate ceasefire and a move to implement the two-state solution.
"Muslims [states] essentially have these two points, that there is an immediate ceasefire and the two-state solution should be implemented according to UN resolutions," he said.
Afghan repatriation
On the repatriation of Afghan refugees, Alvi said that it was an executive decision, adding that the burden of supporting a refugee population of around 3.5 million Afghans all told for the past 35 to 40 years was too large.
Noting that they were our Muslim brothers, but they have had a profound impact on Pakistan's economy and jobs.
"When these refugees got jobs, Pakistan's population lost out on jobs," he said.
He added that these refugees also introduced certain cultural aspects in Pakistan, noting that it is said that the culture of Kalashnikovs increased in Pakistan due to the influx of Afghan refugees and migrants.
"[Sending them back] I feel it is very important for my economy," he said.
Alvi said that when refugees start pouring in, the global community promises to cooperate, but the truth is that no one cooperates with Pakistan.
He added that the appreciation of successive governments was that Afghanistan has been at war. First, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, and the world said it was quite dangerous, and Pakistan supported the resistance.
After the Soviets left and the Americans came in, the people revolted against the Americans. Then, the Taliban government came in.
"Pakistan has just been a cushion; whenever something happens in Afghanistan, they come to Pakistan," he said, adding that 3.5 million was not a small number.
Only two countries in the world are currently handling such a large number of refugees. One is Turkey, which is handling Syrian refugees, and the other is Pakistan.
Asked whether the forced repatriation of Afghan refugees was a pressure tactic by Islamabad on Kabul, Alvi said that there had been concurrent complaints that Pakistan has been asking the interim Afghan government to prevent the infiltration from their side.
"The anti-state players sitting there should not operate across the border, and we have shared evidence as well," he said. In response, Alvi said that the interim Afghan government gave public assurances, even on the international stage, that they will not allow their land to be used against other states, but for the past year, we have been continuously telling Kabul and sharing evidence.
"What we hear from them is that they do not have that much control. But my view is that when it comes to poppy cultivation, which was at around 8,000 tonnes during the Soviets and at around the same level under the Americans, this has been cut to just 300 tonnes and globally, people are asking that such a drastic cut would create problems for local jobs."
Asked why, despite repeated assurances, the Afghan Taliban have been unable to address Pakistan's reservations, Alvi said he does not have an answer for that but added that the Foreign Office is in constant contact with Kabul while those overseeing border security in the defence apparatus are also in constant contact.
"It is not a lack of communication; we have communication. I feel there is a need for greater attention to this problem from the Afghan side," he said.
Completing tenure as President
Asked how he felt to be only the fourth Pakistani President to complete his constitutional term, Alvi said this points to stability in the country.
Looking back on his time as President fondly, he said that he got a chance to work on many public service initiatives since his office was not one of the executive powers except in a few areas.
He outlined his aim to work in public service areas such as breast cancer, women empowerment, mental health, differently-abled people and now out-of-school children.
He added that when he came, one of the first articles he wrote was on artificial intelligence and computing to create vibrancy for a new technology away from routine technologies that would allow us to grow as a nation.
On his interaction with the three prime ministers during his tenure, Alvi said that he usually had official meetings with them, with the prime ministers remaining at a distance from him, given the dynamics of the two offices. However, he noted he had good communication with all of them.
Asked if Nawaz Sharif is elected as prime minister, would he administer the oath of office to him, Alvi said he would.
"My post demands it. I will fulfil the responsibilities of my position, whatever they are," he remarked matter-of-factly.
"Whoever the people elect, I will administer the oath of office to them."