Alvi affirms to become president of Pakistan not a single party

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) nominee for presidential election Dr Arif Alvi has affirmed that he would become president of Pakistan and not that of a single party. Speaking to the journalists before voting, Alvi said he would not become an inactive president and would try to resolve issues like water scarcity, health and justice as president of Pakistan. Acting within the ambit of the constitution, Alvi said that he  would make efforts to resolve all the issues faced by the country. He affirmed that he will become president of Pakistan and not that of a single party. He claimed that some opposition members too have pledged to support him on merit. To a question, he said presidential election is part of the process that would put Pakistan firmly on the path of progress and prosperity. He said PTI wants a Pakistan where every citizen has access to justice and civic facilities. Dr Arif Alvi said, if elected, he would perform his responsibilities in a non-partisan manner and contribute towards strengthening of the federation. He also hoped that he would be elected by a clear majority in today's presidential polls. Keeping in view the numbers game, Arif Alvi is the most favorite candidate to win the election against Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Aitzaz Ahsan.  – Historical background of Dr Arif Alvi – Even during his student years, Arifur Rehman Alvi had an inclination towards politics. While studying at the De’Montmorency College of Dentistry in Lahore, he was an active member of student unions protesting against the then-President Gen. Ayub Khan. Later, in 1979, he decided to run for office as a candidate of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), for a provincial constituency in Karachi, his hometown. The dentist tried his luck in the political arena again in 1996. That year, he joined the lesser-known and fledgeling political party lead by the cricket star, Imran Khan. Soon after, he was appointed the president of the Sindh chapter of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), and then the secretary-general as the party’s ranks swelled. While he contested the general election in 1997 and 2002, he was only successful in 2013, when he picked up NA-250 in Karachi. In the July 25 ballot, he again contested and won the redrawn constituency of NA-247 in Karachi, with over 90,000 votes.