ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on President Arif Alvi on Wednesday amid rising political tensions in the country that reached a boiling point with the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan earlier this month.

Alvi was elected as Pakistan’s 13th president by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party after the 2018 general elections.

He took a sick leave after Sharif became the prime minister, though it was widely believed his decision to temporarily stay away from the political arena was to avoid administering oath to PTI’s political rivals in the new government.

“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif called on President Dr. Arif Alvi at Aiwan-e-Sadr [President House], today,” said an official statement circulated after the meeting. “Issues relating to the political and economic situation in the country were discussed during the meeting.”

Alvi recently clashed with Sharif over the removal of Punjab Governor Omer Sarfaraz Cheema.

The prime minister had moved a summary to dismiss Cheema after he delayed the oathtaking ceremony of the new chief minister of the province, though the president asked the PTI-backed governor to continue his duties.