President Dr. Arif Alvi’s tenure as Pakistan’s head of state, marked by twists and turns, has come to a close after more than five years in office. Despite the upheaval in the political landscape, including the ouster of PTI founder Imran Khan in 2022, President Alvi continued to serve under the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led coalition government.
Becoming the fourth democratically-elected president to complete his term, Dr. Alvi navigated through controversies and challenges, including surviving a reference against a senior Supreme Court judge and controversies surrounding legislative decisions. His role as a bridge between the party leadership and the establishment was notable after the fall of the PTI government.
Throughout his tenure, President Alvi made significant decisions on various issues such as breast cancer diagnosis, workplace harassment cases, and bank fraud. However, his refusal to sign several bills passed by parliament, including crucial legislations like the Accountability Amendment Bill and the Election Act Amendment Bill, sparked further debate and scrutiny. As we reflect on Dr. Alvi’s presidency, let’s revisit the noteworthy events that characterized his roller-coaster tenure in the President’s House from 2018 to 2024.
