President's Secretary Waqar Ahmad on Monday rebutted accusations from President Arif Alvi that he had somehow subverted the President's office and offered to depose before any inquiry committee, commission or court and present the relevant record to clear his name.
In a letter addressed to President Alvi on Monday, Ahmad explained the sequence of events of the arrival of the bills at the Presidency and their dispatch from the President's house and the relevant records.
Ahmad detailed that one of the bills had arrived from the Parliament on the evening of August 2, 2023, after business hours, while the second bill was received on August 8, after business hours.
After being logged, they were taken to the President's office and presented to Alvi the next day of their respective arrivals with accompanying notes from the secretary pointing to the last day for his assent or rejection of the bills- August 11 and August 17, respectively.
Ahmad added that the bills remain in his office as per the records of the President's office to date.
"The above facts and movement of two above-mentioned files clearly indicate that I neither delayed above mentioned two bills nor committed any irregularity or negligence," Ahmad said, adding that the "files are still lying in the office of Honourable President."
Hence, he said that the President's decision to surrender his services as secretary to the Establishment Division was "not based on justice".
He noted that President Arif Alvi surrendering his services to the Establishment Division, conveyed a message to the public that perhaps he was responsible for any irregularity in connection with the processing of the bills and that the matter should be investigated.
"I request that Honourable President may kindly order an inquiry by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) or any other agency to probe the facts and affix the responsibility for any lapse if committed by any officer or official," Ahmad said.
The former secretary to President stated that he was ready to testify before any inquiry or court.
"If Supreme Court or any court calls me for clarification on the subject bills, I will present a record to prove my innocence," he asserted.
Ahmad reiterated that he was not responsible for causing any delays, as claimed by Alvi.
"You are aware of all the facts about above mentioned two bills, and reality is that I am neither responsible for the delay nor undermined office of the Honourable President. I can give my statement on oath."
He urged the President to withdraw his order to surrender Ahmad's services to the Establishment Division.