Ex-president Alvi seeks official residence for life

The Sindh High Court has issued a notice to the Attorney General on a petition filed by former president Dr Arif Alvi, seeking the allotment of a permanent official residence.

A division bench of the SHC took up the petition, in which the former president contended that, under the law, he is entitled to an official residence for life after completing his tenure in office.

Alvi's counsel submitted that his client, who served as the 13th President of Pakistan from 2018 to 2024, was initially allotted Bungalow No 3-A in Bath Island, Clifton. Later, Bungalow No 5-A was allocated to him. However, the latter property is currently occupied by a senior Customs officer, Shahab Imam, who has secured a stay order since 2023.

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The lawyer argued that the federal government had failed to make proper arrangements for the former head of state and that the allotment was made without disclosing the bungalow's existing status. He termed this attitude towards a former president as "inappropriate and unjustified."

The petitioner prayed the court order the federal government to hand over possession of the Bath Island bungalow to Dr Alvi as his official residence. Issuing a notice to the Attorney General, the SHC directed him to file a para-wise reply by the next hearing.