President Alvi visits Quaid’s mausoleum in Karachi

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  • President Alvi says given huge protocol despite requesting against it

KARACHI: President Dr Arif Alvi on Saturday visited the Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum in order to pay homage to the Father of the Nation.

He was accompanied by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani. The president laid a floral wreath at Quaid’s mausoleum, offered Fateha and prayed for the prosperity and progress of the country. He also inked his remarks on the visitors’ book. He is scheduled to meet the city elders in the evening.

After assuming office, this is his first visit to the city. He arrived in Karachi on Friday night and was received by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Governor Imran Ismail and other significant personalities.

It was reported that instead of travelling from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), he preferred a private flight for his journey and was taken to his residence in Muhammad Ali society from the airport’s VIP lounge.

The president reportedly picked up his own luggage from the conveyor belt at the airport and also queued to board the airplane rather than opting for VIP facilities.

Earlier, it was reported that despite refusing to accept protocol, his caravan included at least 42 vehicles. Moreover, Shahrah-e-Faisal and other adjacent roads were closed for traffic.

President Arif Alvi on Saturday clarified that he was given a VIP protocol from the airport to his residence despite his request to not be given a “huge protocol”.

His comment came after a video made rounds on social media of the president who was being accompanied by over two dozen cars from Karachi airport.

Alvi took to Twitter and said, “The long chain of official cars following me is despite the fact that I asked all officials present at the airport not to embarrass me with a huge protocol and that one or two cars in front and one or two cars behind may satisfy their security needs. Did not happen. We have to try harder.”

Separately, when a Twitter user asked about the police mobiles stationed outside his house, President Alvi responded, “We should look into this too and not become a nuisance for my own neighbourhood where I have lived all my life.”

“I do not begrudge security but when it becomes painful for the common man we should draw a line somewhere,” he added.

 

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