Former president Arif Alvi can claim a free government residence for life under legislation governing post-presidential benefits, the Sindh High Court has ruled.
The court directed the Ministry of Housing and Works and the additional estate officer to take the necessary steps to process his entitlement in accordance with the law.
A two-member constitutional bench led by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon issued the directions while deciding two petitions concerning a government house in Karachi that had been allotted to Alvi in 2024.
The bench held that Alvi’s entitlement was governed by the President’s Pension Act 1974. Under the law, a former president is entitled to either a rent-free official residence for life or rent in accordance with the prescribed provisions.
The case also involved Dr Shahab Imam, who is currently occupying the government property in Bath Island.
Imam had challenged Alvi’s entitlement to the particular residence, arguing that the former president already owned a house in the city.
He told the court, however, that he was willing to vacate the government property.
The bench said there was therefore no need for it to adjudicate on or express an opinion on Imam’s petition.
It directed Imam to hand over the premises to the estate office forthwith. The property can then be allotted by the estate authorities in accordance with the applicable law and government policy, the court said.
The ruling effectively separates Alvi’s statutory entitlement to official accommodation from the question of who should occupy the specific Bath Island property.
The court consequently disposed of both petitions after directing the relevant authorities to process Alvi’s housing entitlement under the 1974 law.
