The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf appears to be adamant in its stance against accepting the former opposition leader in the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif, as the prime minister of the country after the ouster of Imran Khan through a vote of no-confidence.
President Arif Alvi on Monday went on a leave after complaining of “discomfort”, just hours before he was scheduled to administer the oath of the prime minister to Shehbaz Sharif.
“The physician has examined him thoroughly and advised him to rest for a few days,” a short statement issued on the official Twitter handle of the president of Pakistan read.
Shehbaz was scheduled to take oath as the prime minister of Pakistan at the Aiwan-e-Sadr at 9pm. However, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani administered the oath to Shehbaz in the absence of President Alvi.
Shehbaz took oath soon after the National Assembly elected him as the 23rd prime minister of Pakistan.
On Sunday, President Alvi said he would continue to hold office for the time being and did not intend to resign despite political turmoil in the country.
The PTI’s close aides said that the president would continue to perform his constitutional duties and that the party leadership had issued no such orders.
Sources claimed that if the PTI Chairman and former premier Imran Khan, in consultation with party leaders, asked President Alvi to resign, he may consider leaving the office.
If the new federal government takes the constitutional route to impeach the president, the party would make a decision based on the circumstances.
There was a possibility that Alvi might remain in office under the newly elected prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif.
