The President was speaking to a panel of Business Recorder (BR)/Aaj TV, headed by Wamiq A Zuberi, Editor BR; Anjum Ibrahim, Resident Editor BR, Islamabad; Tariq Chaudhry, bureau chief Aaj TV, Islamabad; Riffat Saeed, bureau chief Aaj TV, Karachi; and Ali Hussain, staff reporter BR, Islamabad, in an interview in Islamabad on Monday. The President spoke at length on a variety of issues such as regional situation in the wake of India's war hysteria, his role to maintain a balance between his office and being an active party leader before his election as the President, issues of small provinces, the sense of deprivation in Balochistan. The president also highlighted the social issues particularly oral health, child mortality and malnutrition.
Asked which system - the parliamentary form or the presidential form of government - suits Pakistan, he said there had been a heated debate within PTI on presidential form of government, he said: "Personally, I am very much convinced that without corruption and without intention to hegemonize rights of different institutions, every form of government works and even in the past it was being said, but not my views, that a good monarch also does good works for his nation".
"System of governance, of course, is important. But I believe that the intention of democracy and the people of Pakistan, will remain much more important forever," he added.
But he did say that he was quite satisfied with parliamentary form of government, adding, "If any government wants presidential system, nothing to be worried as it simply requires a two-third majority".
"But we have to keep in mind that the provinces should not feel that their representation is being compromised...there is an ongoing debate in this regard with a view to improving the [governance] system," he maintained while referring to the ongoing debate in some circles that want presidential system of government in the country.
Referring to the ongoing tension with India, he said the entire nation, political parties, government, armed forces and the people were united that "we want peace as we have come out from these crisis, tested and tried".
"Our nation and our armed forces are the ones who have experienced these crises...Pakistan is now standing in quite a better platform as a nation," he said, adding that the economic crisis will also be overcome very soon.
Responding to another query, he said secularism in India has seriously been challenged by the extremist elements and it will continue to hit the Indian society. "I also want to give a message to India that terrorism and extremism have caused huge damages to Pakistan. The way the extremism is rising in India, my own relatives live in India, I would also like to give a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi if he did not tackle it very carefully, it has already challenged the secular system of India and it will continue to do so," the President added.
"This is like playing with the fire. I am not talking in the context of Pakistan, but it is in their [India] own interest," he said, adding that Pakistan has already paid a huge price and learnt a lot from the past 30 to 40 years experience.
He said that Pakistan played its cards with great maturity and the Prime Minister from the day-one extended a hand of peace and dialogue towards India. "We want peace, but with dignity...we are creating our new rules under which Pakistan, as per the foundation statement of PTI, will be seen as a dignified nation globally," he said, adding, "I am so happy that with the recent initiatives, the image of Pakistan has enhanced in the comity of nations."
Asked if he as the President can build a consensus like the one nation witnessed in the wake of recent Pakistan-India tension to resolve other issues confronting the country by taking all parties onboard, he pointed out that the Chief Justice of Pakistan had also stated that the President should take initiative in this regard, but the Constitution is silent on this initiative.
He stated that the tension with India was a cause with no dispute in which all got untied while corruption is not a cause there might be some dispute on which all political parties cannot join hands.
However, he said that it should be a political initiative, as the Constitution is very clear that political matters should be handled by the Prime Minister. "If he [PM] feels that I could be helpful in someway, then I am available. But I, being the president, cannot take this initiative," he added.
The President mentioned that today's Pakistan is being respected globally, adding that the way Pakistan hosted millions of Afghan refugees for several decades is what one cannot see in rest of the world.
About the concerns among some political circles with regard to the 18th Amendment, he said that the position of the President is to encourage the federating units and fulfill their requirements, adding the President is also part of the Parliament along with National Assembly and Senate.
"As far as the 18th amendment is concerned, I have been a believer on devolution [of power] and under the amendment all the provinces especially the smaller ones feel that it was a good amendment...there was also need for capacity building [of the institutions devolved]," he said, adding that there is no possibility of changing the devolution process which was made as per the amendment.
But he added that there are certain issues on which it becomes responsibility of the federation to enter into treaties with other countries such as on criminal and prisoners' exchanges etc, and the federation will then implement these treaties with the provinces.
"Capacity building is still needed and the standards which the provinces need to keep especially in the social sector, health and education...there is a need that all these issues should be discussed in the Council of Common Interest (CCI)," he added.
"So, I don't think the 18th Amendment is going to be reversed or it should be rolled back," the President asserted, adding that he was not aware of the concerns of the Sindh government with regard to Council of Common Interests (CCI).
In response to a question, he said that Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) of Sardar Akhtar Mengal is coalition partner of PTI, adding that some goals of the two are very important especially the issue of missing persons.
Dr Alvi said that he was part of negotiations with Akhtar Mengal, adding that a lot of work has been done and there has been a significant process on the issue of missing persons with regard to a legislation as well as discussions among all the institutions.
He said the BNP-M has also submitted a list of the missing persons in National Assembly and this will also be considered. "But it is not necessary that the issue of missing persons will be related to the State and most of them gone missing due to some other factors. But due to lack of openness and non-transparency, fingers are pointed at the State," he said, adding that the minister for human rights is effectively working on the issue.
Another issue in Balochistan, he pointed out, is the water scarcity in the province which is becoming a challenge and dams are being constructed with cooperation of the federal government.
The President pointed out that there is a segment in the province that believes that the Baloch are being neglected. He was confident that the Baloch people would be brought into the mainstream by giving them jobs, etc, adding that the federal government would ensure the allocation of six percent quota for Balochistan in the departments under the center. "This is very encouraging and welcoming move," he added.
To a question, the President said he is being briefed regularly on the cabinet meetings and visits of the foreign dignitaries, adding that this is a regular process and he himself takes the minutes of all the meetings of the federal cabinet.
However, he said he cannot visit the Prime Minister because of his position and cannot call the Prime Minister to his Office. "The protocol of the office [President] does not allow me to visit the Prime Minister and I cannot call him to my office, because he remained my leader and the party leader as well. But we have a very respectful courtesies and we exchange views on a daily basis on various issues and I'm very happy," he added.
To a question about his transition from being an active political worker and election to the office of the President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi said he had taken oath to remain an unbiased and apolitical person. But he stated that he has a very 'strong bias' towards eradication of corruption which he could not help out.
However, he pointed out that there has been a tilt and the factor of bias in every profession, adding that media persons can also be seen giving their views on issues such as judicial appointments.
"Given my political career with the party [PTI] for the last 20 to 22 years and beyond, I always try my level best to reduce my bias. But due to my experiences and thinking, there is one very strong bias which is 'Jihad' against corruption, he contended, adding that this bias towards corruption will remain so.
"When I see the momentum of the movement [against corruption] in Pakistan which has brought the country where one can feel happiness to see that the path on which Pakistan is currently leading is manifestation of the experiences Pakistan has gone through in the past. But I always try my level best to avoid bias when it comes to the individuals and political parties," he added.