‘Allow citizens to initiate treason cases’

Petitioner told to include grounds for challenge to Article 6(3) in plea.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court on Thursday told a petitioner who has accused the prime minister of subverting the Constitution to amend his plea so that it includes a challenge to Article 6(3), which states that cases of high treason are to be instituted by the national legislature.

The petition, moved by Allah Bakhsh Gondal through Advocate AK Dogar, argues that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has defied a series of court orders since the National Reconciliation Ordinance verdict was issued in 2009. It argues that these amount to subversion of the Constitution.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial pointed out that subverting the Constitution was an act of high treason and that Article 6(3) meant only parliament could institute such a case. He said if the petitioner intended to question the validity of the said article, he would need to amend his petition accordingly. The petitioner sought and was given permission to do so.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2011.