Treason case: LHC restores plea against Asif Zardari

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has restored a petition calling for the trial of former president Asif Ali Zardari for treason. LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah accepted the plea filed by Advocate Aftab Virk that was dismissed over non-prosecution on October 22 after  the plaintiff claimed he could not come to the court because of personal reasons. Virk filed the petition, contending the former president had used derogatory words against Pakistan Army in a public speech. Alleging that Zardari’s statement amounted to treason, the petitioner requested the court to try the former president under Article 6 of the Constitution. The chief justice, who heard arguments from the petitioner’s side on the maintainability of the petition on previous hearings, has sought further arguments on November 25.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2016.