ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court on Wednes­day accepted President Arif Alvi’s application surrendering the constitutional immunity in PTV building and Parliament House attack case and heard arguments of the prosecution that conceded that the FIR registered against him was politically motivated.

ATC Judge Mohammad Ali Warraich adjourned further proceedings till March 15 when the court is expected to announce a verdict on a separate application by Mr Alvi seeking his acquittal in the 2014 case for want of evidence.

The court did not proceed against President Alvi earlier due to constitutional immunity and separated his case owing to Article 248(2) of the Constitution that states: “No criminal proceeding whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the Presi­dent or a Governor in any court during term of office.”

On March 4, President Alvi submitted two separate applications — one for giving up his constitutional immunity and another seeking his acquittal for want of evidence under Section 265-K of the Criminal Procedure Code.

When ATC Judge Warriach resumed the hearing on Wednesday, the prosecution supported both applications of the defendant and even conceded that the FIR registered against President Alvi was politically-motivated.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2022