Dual office: President has complied with court orders, hence case dismissed
LHC notes President Zardari is no longer holding any political office.
The federation's counsel said that the President was no longer holding dual offices and presidency was not being used for political purposes. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE:
Over being informed that President Asif Ali Zardari no more occupies an political office and that the presidency is not being used for any political activities in compliance with the court orders, a full bench of the Lahore High Court on Friday disposed of a contempt of court petition against the President.
The petitioner had sought to bring Contempt of Court charges against President Zardari, accusing him of defying the court order issued on May 12, 2011 which expected him to leave his political office given he also held the office of President of Pakistan.
The bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial has also been given assurance by the federal government that the presidency will also not be used for political activities in future.
These are the assurances which the bench was expecting from the federation’s counsel of the federation to drop the proceedings as the CJ during previous hearings had time and again asked Advocate Waseem Sajjad to give a statement in this regard and they would finish these proceedings.
When the proceedings resumed on Friday, Sajjad and Attorney General of Pakistan Irfan Qadir appeared before the bench.
Sajjad produced a certificate from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and submitted that the PPP intra-party elections were held on March 21 in Islamabad where Sardar Latif Khan Khosa was elected as the secretary general and Barrister Masood Kausur as information secretary. He informed the bench that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was patron-in-chief of the PPP whereas President Zardari was not holding any office in the party.
The dual office case verdict dealt with political activities in the presidency and political office enjoyed by the president, he submitted, adding he had already submitted that no political meetings would be held in the presidency.
He said the expectations expressed in the judgment issued on May 12, 2011 had been fulfilled and the matter was closed, and requested that the bench to dispose of the contempt petition.
At this, the chief justice observed that the highest state functionary had taken steps to comply with the judgment which established the supremacy of the law. These were things which were expected from men and women of such stature, he remarked.
He further observed that his other colleague judges had similar sentiments and after the statement by Wasim Sajjad now there was no need to continue the proceedings.
Over being informed that President Asif Ali Zardari no more occupies an political office and that the presidency is not being used for any political activities in compliance with the court orders, a full bench of the Lahore High Court on Friday disposed of a contempt of court petition against the President.
The petitioner had sought to bring Contempt of Court charges against President Zardari, accusing him of defying the court order issued on May 12, 2011 which expected him to leave his political office given he also held the office of President of Pakistan.
The bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial has also been given assurance by the federal government that the presidency will also not be used for political activities in future.
These are the assurances which the bench was expecting from the federation’s counsel of the federation to drop the proceedings as the CJ during previous hearings had time and again asked Advocate Waseem Sajjad to give a statement in this regard and they would finish these proceedings.
When the proceedings resumed on Friday, Sajjad and Attorney General of Pakistan Irfan Qadir appeared before the bench.
Sajjad produced a certificate from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and submitted that the PPP intra-party elections were held on March 21 in Islamabad where Sardar Latif Khan Khosa was elected as the secretary general and Barrister Masood Kausur as information secretary. He informed the bench that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was patron-in-chief of the PPP whereas President Zardari was not holding any office in the party.
The dual office case verdict dealt with political activities in the presidency and political office enjoyed by the president, he submitted, adding he had already submitted that no political meetings would be held in the presidency.
He said the expectations expressed in the judgment issued on May 12, 2011 had been fulfilled and the matter was closed, and requested that the bench to dispose of the contempt petition.
At this, the chief justice observed that the highest state functionary had taken steps to comply with the judgment which established the supremacy of the law. These were things which were expected from men and women of such stature, he remarked.
He further observed that his other colleague judges had similar sentiments and after the statement by Wasim Sajjad now there was no need to continue the proceedings.