‘Disqualify Zardari’ plea filed in High Court
Petitioner says president violated oath of office, Constitution.
LAHORE:
A constitutional petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court asking that Asif Zardari be disqualified from the office of president for allegedly violating the oath of his office and the Constitution.
Hafiz Muhammad Asim filed the petition through Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique. The petition quoted the president as recently stating: “If Article 47 is invoked, I would not accept the Constitution.” Article 47 provides for the removal of the president from his office on the grounds of physical or mental incapacity, and also for the impeachment of the president. The petitioner said that the president’s statement amounted to high treason under Article 6 of the Constitution. He said it was “a matter of record” and widely reported in the press that “the mental stability of the president was not up to the mark”, therefore he should be removed from office.
The petitioner alleged that the president and prime minister had been violating orders from the superior courts and the president’s office was being used for political reasons, so the government was not being run within the parameters of the Constitution.
He said that the president’s oath of office, as prescribed in Article 42, required him to perform his duties honestly, in accordance with the Constitution and law, and in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of Pakistan. He said the president had violated his oath and disregarded the Constitution.
The petitioner asked the court to disqualify the president and seize his assets and properties as “appropriate compensation” to the citizens of Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2011.
A constitutional petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court asking that Asif Zardari be disqualified from the office of president for allegedly violating the oath of his office and the Constitution.
Hafiz Muhammad Asim filed the petition through Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique. The petition quoted the president as recently stating: “If Article 47 is invoked, I would not accept the Constitution.” Article 47 provides for the removal of the president from his office on the grounds of physical or mental incapacity, and also for the impeachment of the president. The petitioner said that the president’s statement amounted to high treason under Article 6 of the Constitution. He said it was “a matter of record” and widely reported in the press that “the mental stability of the president was not up to the mark”, therefore he should be removed from office.
The petitioner alleged that the president and prime minister had been violating orders from the superior courts and the president’s office was being used for political reasons, so the government was not being run within the parameters of the Constitution.
He said that the president’s oath of office, as prescribed in Article 42, required him to perform his duties honestly, in accordance with the Constitution and law, and in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of Pakistan. He said the president had violated his oath and disregarded the Constitution.
The petitioner asked the court to disqualify the president and seize his assets and properties as “appropriate compensation” to the citizens of Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2011.