Arif Alvi sworn in as 13th President of Pakistan
Arif Alvi, a close ally of Prime Minister Imran Khan and one of the founding members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, was sworn in as Pakistan's new President on Sunday. The 69-year-old dentist was administered the oath of office as Pakistan's 13th President by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar at a simple ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr (the President House) at Islamabad. Here's more.
Oath-taking ceremony was attended by top civil-military brass
Dr. Alvi had defeated Pakistan Peoples Party candidate Aitzaz Ahsan and the Pakistan Muslim League-N nominee Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman in a three-way Presidential contest. His predecessor President Mamnoon Hussain left the President House at the completion of his five-year term on Saturday. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by top civil-military brass including PM Khan and Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and foreign diplomats.
Once, Alvi was shot during a protest in Lahore
Alvi was active in the student movement during Ayub Khan's era in 1969. He was shot during a protest in Lahore and proudly carries a bullet in his arm. In 1979, he was a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the provincial assembly but elections didn't take place. Alvi is one of the founding members of PTI. He served as PTI Secretary General from 2006 to 2013.
Now, Imran Khan can smoothly implement his agenda: Observers
Alvi won the National Assembly elections from NA-247 (Karachi) during the July 25 polls. He was also elected member of the National Assembly in 2013 general election. In Pakistan, the President is considered as a symbol of federation and exercises all powers on the recommendations of the PM. With his close ally Alvi as President, Khan can smoothly implement his agenda, according to observers.
