KARACHI — The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the Ministry of Housing and Works and other concerned departments on a petition filed by former president Dr. Arif Alvi, who has sought the allotment of an official residence in Karachi as part of his post-presidency entitlements.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Mohammad Faisal Kamal Alam took up the matter and directed the respondents, including the federal ministry and relevant officials, to submit their comments by October 9. The court also issued notice to the Deputy Attorney General to appear in the next hearing.
In his petition, Dr. Alvi who served as Pakistan’s president from 2018 to 2024 stated that under the law, he is entitled to certain privileges and benefits after completing his tenure, including the provision of an official residence for lifetime use.
Representing the former president, Advocate Ali Tahir informed the court that a bungalow House No. 3-A, Bath Island had initially been allotted to Dr. Alvi during his presidency. Later, the government reallocated another property House No. 5-A in accordance with existing rules and procedures.
However, the petitioner’s counsel stated that the latter residence is currently occupied by Shahab Imam, a Customs official who has been named as one of the respondents in the case. He argued that despite being the rightful allottee, Dr. Alvi has been unable to take possession of the property due to “administrative hurdles and pending litigation.”
According to the petition, Mr. Imam had earlier approached the SHC in 2023 and obtained a temporary stay order against the property’s handover without making the former president a party to the case. The matter, the lawyer said, has not been taken up for hearing since November 2023, leaving the situation unresolved.
The counsel added that Dr. Alvi had already vacated his previous official residence (House No. 3-A) after receiving the re-allotment order and moved his personal belongings to a single room at the new property as a temporary arrangement. That bungalow, he noted, has since been handed over to Retired Captain Asim Khan, who later instructed Dr. Alvi to remove the remaining items.
In his plea, the former president has requested the court to direct the concerned authorities to formally hand over possession of the newly allotted residence and ensure that his legal entitlement to post-presidency accommodation is upheld in line with the applicable laws and government policy.
