Presidential immunity

Vandalism still haunts the ruling dispensation and should incur a lesson on street behaviour of our political class

Arif Alvi took a high moral ground as he appeared before the court of law by putting aside his presidential immunity.

His humble submission before the justice is highly appreciated, as he did this on his own conscience without being called into question by the bench. Alvi is nominated in a case wherein he, along with other PTI members, including PM Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, are accused of attacking the PTV premises and the Parliament House in 2014, as they were up in arms against the then government of Nawaz Sharif. That episode of vandalism still haunts the ruling dispensation and, notwithstanding the verdict, should incur a lesson on street behaviour of our political class, and how responsible they should be otherwise.

President Alvi’s audience at an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Friday is in need of being studied for a political math. By setting aside the prerogative of Article 248 of the Constitution, wherein he enjoys immunity from court appearance, he has set a great precedent. His utterance that “there shouldn’t be any difference between him and the common man” is laudable. He should work on this synopsis and closely scrutinise as to how such a prerogative granted under the Constitution to the incumbent in the highest office has been used for shielding behind personal interests. Our current history is blotted with instances of abuse of power and misuse of public exchequer. The elected elite has disappointed the common man and opted for a course of action that had led to dual application of law. This has been the root-cause behind dismay and dissent.

The president’s referral to Islamic history shouldn’t be merely academic in essence. It demands practical implementation in society so that hypocrisy, despotism and moral decay could be stemmed. The current head of state is better placed to push the envelope and rewrite a new chapter in evolving a society that is compassionate and kind-hearted. This is what Pakistan is in need of as it navigates turbulence in its national life.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2022.

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