Punjab

Verdict reserved in dual offices case

A four-member bench reserves judgment and adjourns hearing for an indefinite period.

Express March 11, 2011

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court on Thursday reserved judgment in identical petitions challenging the holding of two important offices by President Asif Ali Zardari.

Earlier, Advocate AK Dogar concluded his arguments seeking disqualification of the president.

Dogar stated that Zardari’s reputation as ‘Mr 10 per cent’ made him ineligible to hold the office of president under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

He also submitted that Zardari could not remain impartial as the office of the president required as long as he was holding the office of PPP’s co-chairman. He had said that at several occasions, Zardari had served only his party’s interests. This, he said, fell short of the role of president envisaged in the constitution.

Abid Hasan Manto, the amicus curie (friend of court), disagreed with Dogar on whether or not the constitution restricted president from holding dual offices.

He said the constitution put no restrictions on holding of two offices as long as the president remained nonpartisan as the head of the state.

The four-member LHC bench, headed by Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudary, has been holding ex-parte proceedings in the case for over eight months, following a boycott of the hearings by Pakistan Peoples Party lawyers and president’s counsel. Other petitioners in the case include Engr Ghulam Jillani and Advocate Asif Mehmood Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (17)

Khalid Rahim | 13 years ago | Reply @nazeer: Late Fazal Elahi Chaudhry and Farooq Lehgari were both men of Principles and practiced their role as politicians with integrity. There are many who sing General(r) Musharraf's praises but he was no different from the person who succeeded him as the President, both lack honesty and integrity.This country does not need 72 political parties each vying for the 72 houris of Heaven. We do not need more than 6 political parties to have multi-party system and founding families should be banned for next ten years to hold office in the central committee, so that others get a chance to use their acumen in strengthening the democracy within the party and at national level. This is where we need both the armed forces and Superior judiciary to ensure political parties serve the nation and not their vested interest as Mom and Pop stores.

Asmat Jamal | 13 years ago | Reply PPP should not hope for any good from Lahore High Court. The founding father of PPP was also hanged by the same judiciary.

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Aftab Kenneth Wilson | 13 years ago | Reply @Shahryar Ahmed: They are not independent but "Dented Dependent". Don't forget that according to Mr. Rana Sanahullah his "Tae da puttar" is head of SC. The affiliations of others are also not hidden so only see and observe the "Aniaa'n and Jaaniaa'n" of both LHC and SC. Moving very fast to bundle out the whole system for some "New System" called "Selected not Elected".

asif pakistani | 13 years ago | Reply @mr.khalid rahim i think u r right i agree

nazeer | 13 years ago | Reply @khalid raheem: Kindly note there is difference between president/ governor and politicians. the above two are supposed to be unbiased posts. previously Mr. Lughari and Chaudry also resigned from their basic membership of the party on being elected before taking oath of the presidents office. Presidents office is the symbol of the federation. Our nation has poor memory towards politicians and their activities and keep reelecting the samepeople.

Neha Khan | 13 years ago | Reply As if we don't know the judgement :)) This judiciary is becoming a joke.

Uza Syed | 13 years ago | Reply How about impeaching the whole politicised judiciary and appoint retired judges of the impeccable record and integrity ------ they surely can supervise reorganization of a neutral non-partisan judiciary. I am sure they care about Pakistan and its need for a fair judicial system and do this job as a service to their country and a favour to us the stressed and desperate people.

Khalid Rahim | 13 years ago | Reply @asif pakistani: looking at electing their leader based on principles set during the beginning of caliphate it was based on pattern of western democracy. But to the structure of the Muslim society and the tribal norms. As long as the elected leader did not indulge in any criminal act and led the community to the best of his ability. He continued to remain their leader until his second had reached both intellectual and emotional maturity to takeover the reins. Can you point out if any Amir of Jammat e Islami was succeeded by his son, grandson or blood relation.

asif pakistani | 13 years ago | Reply @mr khalid rahim i agree wid u but qazi hussain was amir of jamat for 23 year or so.is dis democracy

atif | 13 years ago | Reply So, if judiciary do any action against, a propaganda campaign started. Did supreme court sign NRO, did supreme court hire corrupt minister, did supreme court is raising petrol prices. If something is going wrong, there are proper procedures to identify them.

Adeel | 13 years ago | Reply it funny to note that the celebrations of the so called "youm-e-iftikhar" have have gone to the back page of news paper.... had the so called free judiciary brought any difference in our lifes it would have been right there at the front.

wasim | 13 years ago | Reply I total agree with Mr. Aamer.

aamer | 13 years ago | Reply Mr. Abdul Ali what about the case against Shahbaz Sharif? Where is judiciary? Why all the cases are listen against government/PPP. Think over it than decide. You will see how is indepedent judiciary after next election.

Khalid Rahim | 13 years ago | Reply There was news that Nawaz Sharif would soon become the chairperson of his party PML(N). If his party sweep the next polls and he becomes the Prime Minister! Should we not file a writ in the Sind High Court to disqualify him from two offices, What about Asfandyar, Imran Khan or the others. Why don't we accept the fact that political parties are private enterprises of affluent families, And their Prince or Princess of Wales is crowned. Removing Zardari from his office as Co-Chairperson will not make a difference.If there is a party that follows the principles of democracy on matters of party politics its Jamaat e Islami.

Abdul Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Let the judiciary do it's job. We have full confidence in judiciary.

Shahryar Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply How about some news of Shabaz Sharif"s government as well? It is long over due. But I am sure it will never come till there is this Independent Judiciary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Usama Zafar | 13 years ago | Reply Our judiciary is completely useless!! No wonder people take the laws into their own hands!!

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