LHC issues notices to Zardari over dual offices

Court hopes President would disassociate himself from political activities.

LAHORE: The Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court on Friday issued a notice to President Zardari for simultaneously holding the offices of co-chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and that of the President, in violation of an earlier order of the full bench of the court, Express News reported.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial issued the notice through the President’s principal secretary.

CJ also decided that a larger bench will hear the case from next hearing as a Constitutional and legal issue has been raised in the petition.

The petitioner’s counsel AK Dogar argued that the court should summon the President to explain his position, just as the Supreme Court called former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in contempt case.

At this, the CJ said the court had issued a notice to principal secretary and court will decide future course of action after the submission of reply by principal secretary. The CJ added that the court may summon the President if it so required.

Justice Bandial went on to say that the office of President is respectable and the LHC full bench had hoped that the President would disassociate himself from political activities, but this has not happened.

Prima facie contempt proceedings are initiated for not following courts’ orders.

The court will resume hearing by June 27.