The Sindh High Court has admitted for hearing a constitutional petition filed by former President Arif Alvi concerning possession of a government-allotted residence in Karachi’s Bath Island area.
In his petition, Alvi argued that a retired customs official was occupying the house that had been allotted to him following the completion of his presidential term. He asked the court to consider his claim to the property.
The retired customs employee contested the petition, maintaining that the residence had been legally allotted to him. He told the court that he possessed a letter from the Ministry of Law stating that he was required to vacate the property after a specified period of sixty years.
Counsel for the former president submitted that the house had been allotted to Mr Alvi after he left office as President of Pakistan.
During the proceedings, Justice Adnan Karim observed that both parties had retired from public service. The judge questioned, in principle, why retired officials should continue occupying government-owned accommodation and remarked that such properties should ordinarily be returned after retirement.
The retired customs official also argued that Alvi was not currently residing in Pakistan and questioned how a government residence could be allotted to someone who was not living in the country.
The court accepted the former president’s request for an urgent hearing and adjourned the case until 31 August.
