ISLAMABAD: Following President Arif Alvi’s unexpected revelation about signing the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the President’s Secretariat announced that the role of Waqar Ahmed, the president’s secretary, is no longer needed. He has been transferred to the Establishment Division with immediate effect.
“In light of the definitive statement made yesterday, the President’s Secretariat has communicated via a letter to the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister that the services of Mr. Waqar Ahmed, Secretary to the President, are no longer required and are handed over to the Establishment Division immediately” read a statement posted on the official account of the President of Pakistan on X.
The previous day, the president said he had not signed the two bills, sparking a substantial controversy within the country.
President Alvi had conveyed on X “As God is my witness, I did not sign the Official Secrets Amendment Bill 2023 & the Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2023 as I disagreed with these laws. I directed my staff to return the bills unsigned within the stipulated time to render them ineffective. I confirmed from them multiple times whether they had been returned and was assured that they had. However, I have now learned that my staff undermined my intentions and instructions. Since Allah knows all, He will pardon IA. Nevertheless, I seek forgiveness from those who will be affected,”
The communication to the PM’s principal secretary includes a request to replace Waqar Ahmed with Humaira Ahmed. Humaira Ahmed is a BPS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service and is proposed to be the new secretary to the president.
