Arif Alvi elected new Pak Prez

Islamabad, Sep 4: Dr Arif Alvi, one of the founding members of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, was elected as the new President of Pakistan on Tuesday.

Alvi defeated Pakistan Peoples Party candidate Aitzaz Ahsan and the Pakistan Muslim League-N nominee Maulana Fazl ur Rehman in a three-way contest to become the 13th president.

Of the 430 votes cast in the National Assembly and Senate, Alvi received 212 votes, Rehman bagged 131 and Ahsan garnered 81; six votes were rejected, DawnNews reported, citing unofficial results.

Alvi secured 45 of the 60 votes cast by the Balochistan’s newly elected lawmakers, it said.

In the PPP-dominated Sindh Assembly, Ahsan got 100 votes, while Alvi bagged 56. Just a solitary vote was cast in the favour of Rehman.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Alvi received 78 of the total 109 votes, while Rehman and Ahsan got 26 and five votes respectively.

In Pakistan, the President is considered as a symbol of the federation and head of the state and exercises all powers on the recommendations of the prime minister.

Outgoing President Mamnoon Hussain’s tenure ends on September 8.

A dentist by profession, 69-year-old Alvi is one of the founding members of PTI. He served as the party’s secretary general from 2006 to 2013.

He won the National Assembly elections from NA-247 (Karachi) during the July 25 polls. He was also elected member of the National Assembly in the 2013 general election.

Speaking to reporters, Alvi said he was thankful to Almighty Allah that the PTI nominee was elected as the president. Alvi also thanked party chairman and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for reposting his confidence in him.

“I have nothing in this, my affiliates made me contest the election,” the newly-elected president said, expressing gratitude for all those who voted for him.

Alvi vowed to work as the president in an improved way, adding, “I am not just a president of Tehreek-e-Insaf, rather of all political parties and the nation.”

Alvi is expected to take oath of office on September 9.