ISLAMABAD – President Arif Alvi has termed speculations about his absencefrom the funeral of Pakistan Army officers martyred in Balochistanhelicopter crash as “unnecessary controversy”.
The response comes after reports emerged that President Alvi had expressedintention to attend the funeral prayers but he was stopped by informing himthat people were enraged after “PTI launched toxic and negative propagandaabout the martyrs”.
The president took to his personal Twitter account to issue theclarification in this regard, a day after the martyrs were laid to rest.
“There is unnecessary controversy on why I did not attend Janaza of theShaheeds recently. This gives me an opportunity to condemn in unequivocalterms the despicable tweets by those who are neither aware of our cultureor our religion,” he wrote in the thread.
“When respect for Shahadat is also present in the Quran, how can wedesecrate the memory & the sacrifice of those whom Allah has given eternallife. Like all Pakistanis I have admired the Shuhuda all my life. Sinceyou, the Pakistani people have put me in this office of [amanat].”
Alvi underscored that he has called hundreds of families, attended funeralsand visited them to offer his condolences.
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“On your behalf, I consider it my duty to do so. The families have beenproud, but we all recognise the sad and personal loss in this world,”President Alvi wrote.
He said it is especially difficult to condole with families where youngchildren are the survivors.
“When the family members have cried, I have cried. There is no doubt in mymind that Pakistan is safe only because of their ultimate sacrifices. Thatis what makes me proud of Pakistan.”
However, the president did not mention the reason of not attending thefuneral of martyrs.
