KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has ruled that former president Arif Alvi is entitled to a free official residence for life.

A two-judge constitutional bench of the SHC headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon directed the government to process the housing entitlement of the former president as per law.

The bench disposed of two petitions related to a dispute about allotment of an official residence to the former president as post-presidency entitlement.

It said that the entitlement of Mr Alvi was squarely governed under the President’s Pension Act 1974 and he was entitled to either free official residence for life or rent as stipulated in the law.

The bench noted that the second petitioner Dr Shahab Imam, who lives in a government house in Bath Island which was allotted to the former president in 2024, submitted that Mr Alvi was not entitled to the subject residence as he already owned a residence in the city.

Dr Imam also submitted that he had no objection to vacating the subject residence.

The bench directed the ministry of housing & works and an additional estate officer to process the house entitlement of the former president.

It also said that the court did not wish to adjudicate or express any opinion upon the second petition as Dr Imam had already indicated his intent to vacate the subject premises and he must surrender the property to the estate office forthwith, which may allot it in accordance with law and policy.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2026