Parliament attack case: Arif Alvi refuses to take exception to appears in court
Supreme Court Petition Seeks Removal of President Alvi
ISLAMABAD, March 3,2022- President Arif Alvi appeared in the Parliament attack case, with his lawyer Babar Awan in Islamabad’s Anti-Terrorism Court.
Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Mohammad Ali Warraich heard the case.
During the hearing, President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi submitted a petition seeking non-presidential immunity.
‘Seems verdict has already been written,’ Alvi
During the hearing, President Dr. Arif Alvi addressing the court’s judge said, “I have found that the verdict for this case has been written.”
He said that I tried to study Islamic history, there was no scope for immunity, I was bound by the Constitution of Pakistan, the Quran is a greater constitution, the Constitution of Pakistan gives me immunity but I do not want to take this exception.
The President said that as many caliphates came to the courts with great dignity, I was charged in 2016 and had also been granted bail by the same court.
He pleaded that the entire judiciary be requested to make speedy decisions. When there is a lawsuit next generations plead the case, my father sued in 1977, that continues to this day.
“I was accused of supplying weapons.”
Speaking to media outside the court, President Arif Alvi said, “I was accused of supplying weapons.”
“I follow Pakistani laws, but I do not want to be exempt in this case, I am present as a civilian, not the President of Pakistan,” he said.
The President Dr Arif Alvi also told the judge that the judge should make a decision soon, the cases go on too long, the witnesses die, the memory weakens, the paper goes away.
President’s lawyer Babar Awan told media that Arif Alvi had decided that he would appear in court as a civilian and not take presidential immunity.
What was the case?
In August 2014, PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehrik had staged a sit-in in Islamabad which continued till December that year. The protest had continued for a record 104 days.
On Aug 31, 2014, PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers marched towards the Parliament House and Prime Minister House and clashed with police deployed at Constitution Avenue. The protesters also attacked the premises of PTV and briefly took control of the building.
Police invoked the Anti-Terrorism Act against PTI chief Imran Khan and leaders including Arif Alvi, Asad Umar, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Shafqat Mehmood and Raja Khurram Nawaz for inciting violence during the 2014 sit-in.
As per the prosecution, three people were killed and 26 others were injured while 60 individuals were arrested. The prosecution had submitted 65 photos, sticks, cutters and other objects to the court as evidence to establish its case.
