LHC: Contempt application moved against Zardari's speech at political rally

Petitioner says that by addressing a political rally, the president had violated court orders on political activities.

LAHORE: Days after President Asif Ali Zardari addressed a public rally in Malakwal, a contempt application was moved before Lahore High Court (LHC) for violating Supreme Court orders.

Munir Ahmad filed the contempt application. Ahmad had previously filed a contempt application  against the president for ignoring an LHC full bench order on holding a political office and conducting political activities in the presidency. That petition is already pending before the LHC.

The applicant’s counsel Muhammad Azhar Siddique stated that in the Supreme Court’s order in the Asghar Khan case and LHC’s order in the case of dual offices of Asif Ali Zardari, the president could not be involved in political activities.

He stated that Zardari’s speech at a political gathering was a clear cut violation, defamation, contempt and disregard of court orders.

Siddique stated that president's political activities would affect the general elections.

He requested the court to initiate contempt proceedings against president Zardari for violating the superior courts orders.