LHC demands details of president's activities in Lahore

Government lawyer says president did not attempt contempt of court, no meetings took place.

LAHORE: In its ongoing hearings of the dual-office case, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has instructed the government’s lawyer, Wasim Sajjad to submit a detailed report on President Asif Ali Zardari's political activities during his stay in Lahore, Express News reported.

During the hearing, Sajjad  said that neither did the president attempt any contempt of court, nor did he take part in any political meetings.

He further claimed that the media was publishing baseless reports and that nobody had any right to interfere in the president's personal life.

Sajjad also said that as elections were coming close, more political rallies would take place and hence such allegations would keep coming up every now and then. He advised the apex court to stay away from the political environment.

While agreeing that commenting on the president's personal life was beyond the court's jurisdiction, the LHC Chief Justice Umar Bandial  clarified that legal questions can be asked about the president's political activities in the public sphere.

The senior judge also remarked that if the post of the presidency is being used to benefit particular political parties then that would be a contempt of previous court orders.

The case has been adjourned for a fortnight.