SHC directs Sindh government to submit details of cases against Dr Arif Alvi

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday directed the Sindh government to submit the complete list of FIRs that have been lodged against former president and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Arif Alvi in the province of Sindh.

The direction came on a petition filed by the former president seeking an injunction against arrest in blind FIRs.

The petitioner’s counsel, Ali Tahir, submitted that the petitioner was falsely involved in the cases on the basis of political victimisation. He submitted that a number of FIRs had been lodged against the petitioner in the province, which he was unaware of and expressed apprehension that he might be arrested at any time in respect of such FIRs.

He said the purpose of the FIRs was to harass the petitioner from continuing his peaceful political struggle against the government. He requested the high court to grant protection to the petitioner as there was apprehension that he could be arrested in blind FIRs. He asked for grant of an injunction against the registration of fresh cases against him.

The SHC’s constitutional bench headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha directed the provincial law officer and assistant prosecutor general to file complete list of FIRs registered against the petitioner in Sindh under the signature of the inspector general of police as well as the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general on the next date of hearing.

The high court also continued its interim restraining order with regard to arrest of the petitioner in any case till the next date of hearing and adjourned the hearing till December 19. Talking to journalists after the proceedings, Dr Alvi said that if former spy chief was being prosecuted for taking part in politics, it would also set an example for those officials who were at present taking part in politics.

The SHC had earlier granted protective bail to the former president in three cases registered at different police stations of Punjab. Dr Alvi had moved the SHC for obtaining protective and transitory bail in connection with three criminal cases registered against him at Mianwali, Taxila and Rawalpindi police stations.

The high court had also directed a provincial law officer to submit details of cases pending against another PTI leader Azam Khan Swati in the province with the signatures of the Sindh inspector general of police.