Non-maintainable: Plea against PPP leaders dismissed

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday dismissed a petition seeking treason charges against former president Asif Ali Zardari and several other Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders.

Ilyas Gujjar, an All Pakistan Muslim League leader, had submitted the petition. His counsel said Zardari, former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Aseefa Zardari had issued statements against the armed forces, which could adversely affect Operation Zarb-i-Azb. “Such statements only strengthen terrorists,” he said. “They committed treason under Article 6 of the Constitution and should be tried under high treason (law) for trying to destabilise the country,” the counsel said.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Ijazul Ahsan said that the petition was non-maintainable and dismissed it.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2015.