Today, the Sindh High Court (SHC) handed down an important judgment that prohibits the arrest of former President Arif Alvi in any case registered until the next hearing. The court was hearing an application requesting the details of the cases lodged against Alvi. His attorney told the court that although protective bail had been granted in three cases, he was still at risk of being arrested in unknown FIRs, which seemed politically motivated. The counsel also sought to place a hold on the lodging of fresh FIRs.
Justice Sana Akram Minhas said there could be no stay order at this stage but maybe some days Alvi may be safe. Justice Arbab Ali Hikro wondered how the court could bar arrests on the basis of having no FIRs. Alvi’s lawyer argued for the interim repose of their client from arrest till the next hearing, but Justice Arbab noted that the arguments were already being presented by his lawyer on his behalf.
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The officials were to report the registered cases filed against Alvi, even as the assistant prosecutor sought time citing the short notice. The SHC ordered that no further arrests could be made against Alvi in present cases until the next hearing, meaning that all new FIRs registered from today onwards would be outside the ambit of this ruling. Notified were the provincial and federal governments to respond before the next hearing concerning this on December 12.